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Friday, April 21, 2006
Korean accuses guard, ex-immigration man of threats
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- A Korean national accused a dismissed immigration official and a security officer of a high-end subdivision in Davao City of grave threats and slander by deed for allegedly manhandling him.
Complainant Kim Tae Ho, of Woodridge Park Subdivision, said that on April 8, he was swimming at the subdivision's pool when approached by a certain Juvy, a clubhouse officer, uttering statements in English.
Not being able to understand the English language, the Korean decided to get out of the pool and go home.
Ho said that after a few minutes, seven people arrived at his residence led by a man he later identified as Alimar Etrone, former alien control officer of the regional office of the Bureau of Immigration in Southern Mindanao.
The Korean national said Etrone immediately showed his badge and declared that he was an immigration officer.
Ho said he was ordered by Etrone to follow him to the clubhouse.
Ho requested his friend and housemate, Tag Yeong Hun, to accompany him since he does not speak fluent English.
The complainant said that upon their arrival at the clubhouse, Toto Climaco, the homeowners' security officer, readily punched him at his left breast.
"Climaco attempted to pull his gun, saying 'I'll kill you.' At that precise moment Hun (Ho's companion) intervened by holding his hands to prevent him from shooting me," Ho said.
Etrone, on the other hand, called Ho inside the office. Inside, Ho said he was held in his arms by two security guards.
"Mr. Etrone told me to take off my eyeglasses. But before I could do so Mr. Etrone personally removed my eyeglasses and slapped me with his left and right hands three times and told me that he will file a case against me so I will be deported," the complainant said.
Hun corroborated Ho's statement.
But Climaco in an interview Thursday denied Ho's accusations.
Climaco, also a homeowner, said the Korean was requested by the clubhouse manager to get out of the pool since he was disturbing an ongoing wedding ceremony at that time.
Climaco said Ho was only wearing his underwear at that time, creating a stir among guests of the wedding ceremony who were all in their formal attire.
He also denied hitting the Korean national.
Climaco said Ho fell on the stairs due to his drunkenness and was never harmed by him or Etrone.
A medical examination on the complainant showed that Ho suffered "soft tissue contusions on his maxillary areas, posterior nuchal area, and posterior shoulder area."
Ho and Hun were reportedly the subjects of numerous complaints in the past.
The two foreigners were accused by a hardware store in Ma-a for alleged non-payment of construction materials amounting to almost P30,000.
Another complaint from Engineer Jay Cris Olandria charged Hun with "unprofessional act" after the foreigner allegedly tore up the notice of inspection served by the subdivision's security guard.
Korean embassy officials had requested that the Davao City Police Office furnish them a copy of its investigation on the incident.
Sun.Star Davao tried but failed to get Etrone's side. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(April 21, 2006 issue)
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