Manila: A South Korean national died after suffering complications due to ulcers, days after he was released by his abductors in late November, in the southern Philippines, a TV report said.
Choi In-Soo had died in a hospital, Lanao del Norte Police provincial Superintendent Orland Benas said in a TV interview. He did not give more details.
Choi was released in Calimudan village, Salvador town in Lanao del Norte on November 24. He was already sick at the time, said Banas, adding the South Korean developed ulcers because he was not given enough food by his kidnappers.
It was the first time for the authorities to admit that Choi had died.
He and two other compatriots were kidnapped from their hotel in Cagayan de Oro on October 21.
Choi's companions, South Koreans Seok Bong-Wun and Kim Nam-Doo were released by their kidnappers also in Lanao del Norte on November 26.
The three South Koreans were reportedly looking for mining sites in the south. Their
Filipino-Muslim guide was identified as Junie Ongue. It is not known if he was released or not.
The kidnappers used the mobile phones of their victims to call up the latter's relatives to demand for 50 million-peso ransom (Dh4.16 million), authorities said earlier.
Ransom payment was not paid to the kidnappers, they added after the three South Koreans were released.
The South Korean Embassy in Manila has not released a statement about the fate of the released kidnap-victims.
