Trio Disguised as Delivery-Service Riders Rob Korean Tourists at Gunpoint in Manila, Philippines

[Financial News] A trio of armed robbers disguised as delivery and motorcycle-hailing service riders attacked a Korean tourist near Manila, the Philippine capital, stole valuables and fled. Local police have arrested and are questioning one suspect while searching for the accomplices.
According to local media outlets including the Manila Bulletin and The Philippine Star, at around 9:15 p.m. on October 31, a Korean man in his 40s, identified as A, was heading to buy groceries when he was attacked by three men on motorcycles on Macapagal Boulevard in the Tambo area of Parañaque City, Metro Manila. The reports were published on the 2nd, local time.

Police found that the suspects, disguised as riders by wearing motorcycle-hailing service uniforms and similar attire, followed A as he walked along the road and tried to snatch his bag. When A resisted and a scuffle broke out, one of the suspects fired a gun to intimidate him.
Fortunately, A was not hit by the gunfire. He suffered abrasions to his head and knees during the scuffle and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The suspects took his bag, which contained about 12,000 pesos in cash (about 250,000 won), his passport, a hotel access card and other items, and fled.
Police officers patrolling nearby heard the gunshots and immediately responded, arresting a suspect in his 30s named “Ramon.” The other two accomplices escaped on a motorcycle. Police seized from the arrested suspect a 9mm pistol, six live rounds, helmets, hats, a license plate believed to be fake, the motorcycle used in the crime and motorcycle-hailing service uniforms.
Police said they believe the suspects bought the uniforms online and elsewhere to disguise their identities. They also said the arrested suspect had previously been involved in three vehicle theft cases and had been charged with rape. In response, the Philippine National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) urged transportation and delivery service companies to strengthen controls over the distribution of uniforms and related identifying marks.

In the Philippines, where civilian gun ownership is widespread and public safety is relatively unstable, serious crimes including robbery and murder targeting Korean tourists and expatriates have continued to occur.
In response, the South Korean Embassy in the Philippines has repeatedly issued notices and urged people to strictly avoid walking alone late at night or in sparsely populated areas. It has also advised that, especially when confronted by a robber carrying a weapon, they should not resist and should put their physical safety ahead of their valuables. Since August last year, the Korean Help Desk, a unit dedicated to crimes against Koreans, has also been operating at eight local police stations to respond to related cases.


[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter