by RUTH KIM
Three Koreans—a married couple and their adult daughter—were found dead inside Han Ga Wi Restaurant in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City in the Philippines on Thursday night.
The victims, who authorities said were lying on the ground with stab wounds, were identified as Ho An, his wife Kim Soonok and daughter Young Mi An, according to various news sources in the Philippines. The family owned the restaurant, police said.
Another Korean identified as Kim Se Wong, the husband of Young Mi An, was also found injured at the site of the crime, according to Chief Conrado Manatad of Mactan Police Station. Kim was taken into police custody and was transported to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for treatment of several cuts on his wrists. He was found under the influence of alcohol, Manatad said.
Police are still investigating whether the wounds were self-inflicted by Kim Se Wong, if he was a targeted victim as well, or if he was involved in the crime.
There are varying media accounts of how the scene at the restaurant was discovered. One article reports that a Korean customer came to the restaurant, which opens daily at 10 a.m., and was surprised to find it closed at 6 p.m. The customer reportedly “checked” the restaurant and found bloodstains, and then immediately called police. Another article recounts a similar story; however, the customer who came by the restaurant is identified as male. It said that he and a guard nearby looked inside the restaurant to find the bloodstains and called the police.
A third account from Cebu’s Sun Star reports that the guard-on-duty, Sharon Inting, said that a Korean woman (not a man) who claimed to be a friend of the victims came to the restaurant around 5 p.m. The woman repeatedly knocked and called, finally asking Inting for help after no response.
Inting, who said that day was her first day of duty, went alone through the back door, which was found unlocked. She proceeded inside the premises, where she found blood on the floor and broken chairs in disarray.
According to the guard logbook, the outgoing guard Eborda Jr. recorded that he heard a commotion, a woman screaming, and objects breaking inside the restaurant at 2:23 a.m. He was reportedly unable to enter the restaurant due to locked doors. At 2:35 a.m., he recorded that no noise could be heard inside the restaurant.
The investigation is ongoing.
