ANGELES CITY --- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said he will form a desk to protect Korean nationals in the city.
Pamintuan, while in Rome for the third round of peace talks, issued the statement to local media following the involvement of city police officers in illegal detention, robbery and extortion of Korean nationals recently.
A desk will be set up within the Mayor's Office to look into the welfare of Koreans in Angeles City, according to him.
The mayor said he will immediately meet with the leaders of the Korean community in this city after arriving from Rome this weekend.
"I am dismayed and saddened by the alleged involvement of policemen in crimes against our friends from Korea who visit and have taken residence in our city," he said.
The mayor said he met with key officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) a day before he left for Rome last January 6 to warn them that he will not tolerate wrongdoings involving local policemen.
Some policemen from the Police Station 5 in Barangay Cuayan in this city, where the so-called "Korean Village" is located, were implicated in the illegal detention, extortion and robbery committed against three Korean nationals last December 30.
It was also in the same area where Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo was abducted by a police team allegedly led by SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel of the PNP Anti Illegal Drugs Group in a "tokhang for ransom" operations.
Pamintuan said he will seek the help of the Korean community in setting up measures and mechanisms to ensure the safety of their nationals.
He added he will seek the relief of all police officers assigned at the Station 5.
He said scalawags and rogue policemen are derailing the anti-illegal drug war of the President and should be treated "in manners harsher than drug criminals.