The return of the Americans follows a deal hammered out with the Philippine military last spring. The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement grew out of concern here over China’s spread into waters just off the coast here, and China’s claim over more than 80 percent of the South China Sea that extends far below the Chinese mainland.
In Olangapo today, a city of 220,000, enthusiasm is strong for a US return. That’s due not only to the perceived China threat, but also because the Philippine armed forces, not the Pentagon, will govern the sprawling old base with new rules designed to curb off duty behavior.
After World War II, Subic gained prominence as the largest US naval facility in the Pacific, cherished for its deep water, sheltered spots to anchor ships, and elaborate repair infrastructure.
Yet during the heyday of Subic, US naval personnel gained notoriety for helping turn the area into a zone of hostess bars and prostitution that fostered local crime.
Now, the returning military must stay on approved parts of the base, which has added a well-groomed Harbor Point shopping mall with cinemas and some 200 stores including Starbucks, TGI Friday’s, and eventually Gold’s Gym. A midnight to 5 a.m. curfew will be enforced around the base.
To short-circuit charges of a new form of colonialism, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, a local governing body, is authorizing Philippine forces to oversee the former base and its returning inhabitants in segments of 15 years. [The Christian Science Monitor]
Koreans residing in the Philippines are growing more wary of organized kidnappings there, particularly in light of the latest incident, in which a 74-year-old man was discovered dead 10 months after his abduction by a kidnap-for-ransom group.
This year, 10 Koreans have been killed in the Philippines, raising alarm in Seoul on how to better protect its nationals residing in or visiting the Southeast Asian nation.
Concern has also grown over the presence of kidnapping groups, which assign different people to oversee different stages of the abduction process, from targeting victims and identifying their locations to the negotiation process.
On Sunday, Thien Nyuk Fun, a Malaysian woman who was kidnapped by the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, was released after six months in Sulu province, in the southern Philippines.
The 74-year-old man, however, only identified by his surname Hong, who was kidnapped at the beginning of this year by the same group, was not so fortunate.
Hong was abducted by the kidnap-for-ransom group Abu Sayyaf on Jan. 24, while he was visiting his son’s home in Zamboanga Sibugay province, near Sulu.
Abu Sayyaf bandits operate around the remote Sulu province and reportedly demanded a ransom of 500 million pesos ($10.6 million) for Hong three weeks after he was kidnapped. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
Could you imagine what the reaction would be if these were American servicemembers accused of this even if the story didn’t add up like this one apparently isn’t according to the report:
Eight Korean men are embroiled in a rape scandal in the Philippines, which has prompted other Korean expats there to fear for their safety.
Broadcaster GMA reported Monday that the eight Korean men are suspected of raping a Filipino woman in her 20s after plying her with alcohol and taking her to a hotel.
The Filipino broadcaster said the woman met one of the men in online chat and agreed to meet him for drinks. The woman says the two then went to another bar, where seven other Korean men sexually molested her and took her to a hotel where they raped her. She says the men physically assaulted her when she tried to resist and she had to go to hospital.
Police have not yet been able to find definitive evidence to corroborate the victims’ claims of rape.
The report created a public uproar in the Philippines and went viral on the Internet. But a Korean Embassy inspector says the woman’s claims do not add up.
The inspector told the Chosun Ilbo, “A close inspection of surveillance camera footage showed no trace of the seven other men who the woman claimed took part in the rape.”
Police in the Philippines are investigating the prime suspect. An embassy official said, “We are concerned that the report by a major broadcaster could harm Korea’s image and lead to revenge attacks on Koreans. We plan to seek a review of the police investigation and launch an official response.” [Chosun Ilbo]
Hopefully the truth will eventually come out, but this is another example of why people should wait and see facts come out before drawing conclusions on crimes like this. However, she did go to the hospital which should be able to provide a wealth of physical and forensic evidence to help determine if she was gang raped even if the video evidence does not support it. So it will be interesting to see what comes of this case.
I guess a billionaire has to find ways to spend his money:
The Sultan of Brunei rented out half of a luxury hotel in Busan for the two days of the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit, according to an industry source.
The source said Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, accompanied by 12 princes and princesses, booked 119 rooms. The sultan stayed in a presidential suite measuring 654 square meters, with a spectacular ocean view, which costs 10 million won per day. [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link, but the Sultan is worth $40 billion from his kingdom’s oil and gas riches.
