Policemen robbed and extorted money from three golfers from South Korea as part of a suspected larger racket targeting tourists from that country, a senior officer said on Tuesday.
The announcement fueled fears of police abuse under the cover of President Duterte’s deadly war on crime, after authorities announced last week that policemen murdered a South Korean businessman then extorted money from his wife.
“They came to the Philippines just to play golf but they went through a traumatic experience,” said Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, a regional police head.
He said the three South Koreans were staying at an upscale gated community in Angeles City, Pampanga province, when policemen barged into their house under the pretext of carrying out an illegal gambling raid on Dec. 30.
They robbed the Koreans of their computers, jewelry, golf clubs, golf shoes and P10,000, according to Aquino.
He said the three South Koreans were then held at a police station for about eight hours until a friend paid P300,000 for their freedom.
The three reported the incident to the South Korean Embassy, which informed the Philippine National Police, Aquino said.
