Crimes against foreign tourists in Boracay alarming

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Foreigners in Boracay Island are often the victims of petty crimes or incidents, reports from Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC) showed.

Most of the victims of these crimes such as mauling, pick pocketing, robbery and theft are in Boracay Island for short-term stay. These incidents would take place inside their hotels and resorts, beach front, bar and other tourist areas.

A Russian national identified as Kirill Bukhartcev was victimized by ‘lady boys’ last February 1. He allegedly robbed by the suspects – 23-year old Jestoni Taruc alias Angela Shane from General Santos City and 31-year old Greggy Rosario alias Osang from Kalibo, Aklan - of his Iphone5 and P2,500 cash money. 

The two suspects offered the Russian national to sleep with them in their boarding house when they met at a disco pub.

Police said the foreigner refused to sleep with them but the suspects forcibly took off his short pants and took his Iphone. Taruc and Rosario were facing charges for robbery and coercion.

Last January 23, a Swedish national vacationing with her husband was also allegedly sexually abused by a motorcycle driver.

“Lena” was alone when she went home at around 1:30 a.m. after a bar hopping.

The victim rode a motorcycle driven by 32-year old Jessie Lozada of Sigma, Capiz and asked to be brought to her resort. To her surprise, she was taken in a hilly portion in the area and allegedly raped by Lozada.

Police said Lozada was charged with rape before the Aklan Prosecutor’s Office.

Two Swedish nationals Rolengemar Sundell  and  Amalia Wela were victims also of theft while they were sleeping in their hotel room in Station 3 in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.

The intruders fled and  stole their laptop, cellphone and cash amounting to P63,000. No arrests have been made. 

Another Korean national was attacked by a group of unidentified male in Barangay Balabag on February 13.

Je Hoo An, 31, of Doosan 106-801, Bukayeon-Dong, Seodaemoon-Gu, Seoul, Korea, sustained injuries after he was allegedly mauled outside a bar by unidentified men. The victim was brought to Don Ciriaco Tirol Memorial Hospital for treatment.  

Stephan Raphael Linder, 27, a Swedish national and 27-year old Russian tourist Mariah Riazanova also suffered injuries when they were attacked in the beach front by two suspects – Bernard Cabanus Villamor, 23, from Mambusao, Capiz and Joseph Gregorio Salibio, 21, from Romblon on February 14.

Police said the suspects hit the foreigners with beer bottles. They were taken under police custody and facing charges of physical injury, resistance and disobedience. 

A 25-year old Japanese national Shenya Ishikawa  also reported to BTAC that her cellphone was snatched by motorcycle-riding suspect while she was being asked of her mobile contact number.