Cops hunt suspects in slay of Korean

CAMP PACIANO RIZAL, Laguna—The police Monday started to hunt for three suspects in the killing of the Korean manager of a high-end resort in Calamba City, Laguna.

Senior Superintendent Pascual Muñoz, Laguna police director, on Monday said they were zeroing in on two males and a female as likely culprits in the robbery and killing of Yan In Geong, 45, manager of 88 Hotspring Resort and Spa.

Muñoz said the three guests  checked in at the resort at past midnight on March 14 but stayed only for about half an hour.

“They checked in at  12:46 a.m. and left at  1:09 a.m. They took a room  not too far from the manager’s room. We found bloodstains when we checked the room [that the three had occupied],” Muñoz said in a phone interview.

Muñoz believed the Korean, who was a live-in resort manager, was killed around that time. Yan’s body was discovered by a resort employee at around 11:30 a.m. on Friday. He was tied, had several stab wounds and a slit on his throat.

Police took possession of the footage from the resort’s security camera and showed it around the city for possible identification of the suspects, according to Muñoz.

The male suspects were described to be between 30 and 40 years old. One was  5-feet-3-inches in height and chubby while the other was  5-feet-9-inches tall. Their female companion was believed to be around 35 years old, wore heavy makeup and sported blond hair.

They checked in under the name “Michael Torres” but police believed it was fictitious. When police tried to call the cell phone number listed in the registration card, it was not working, said Muñoz.

“The footage also showed [the suspects] left on a tricycle so we’re also trying to locate the tricycle driver,” added Muñoz.

Muñoz said the victim’s cell phone and wallet with undetermined cash were taken by his assailants.

The 88 Hotspring Resort and Spa, located in Barangay Bagong Kalsada, 40 miles south of Manila, was named the best resort in Laguna by the Department of Tourism in 2007, according to the resort’s website.

Supt. Cesar Tannagan, Calamba City police chief, was relieved from his post on Saturday but Muñoz denied it was because of this incident.

Police have stepped up security measures in Calamba and Los Baños, known tourist destinations in Laguna, said Muñoz.

Los Baños and Calamba City authorities have also started preparing for the influx of vacationers in time for the summer season.

A Calamba City village official estimated that there are around 800 private resorts and 20 public resorts in the city alone. A private resort can host up to 30 guests while a public facility can house as much as 1,000 guests in a day.

Muñoz said they would deploy “tourist cops” to rove around resort areas in Calamba City to beef up security during summer. He also asked vacationers to stay alert against thieves.