Korean at Hanjin held for hitting Filipino

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines — A Korean foreman at the Hanjin shipyard in Subic Bay Freeport was held by company officials after he hit a Filipino worker with a steel flashlight on the face and head on Tuesday.

Arceo Malit, a deputy foreman at Unit 25 of Hanjin’s pre-outfitting section, said Lee Cheon Sik, a foreman at the assembly part, hit him for no reason. Lee was held for investigation by Hanjin safety officials, said Taek Kyun Yoo, general manager of the Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Philippines Inc. (HIHICPI).

Malit, 26, who was taken to the St. Jude Hospital in Olongapo City for wounds in the face, said he would file a frustrated murder case against Lee.

Melchor Remedios, president of the HHICPI Workers Union, said Lee was looking for a foreman at the fit-up section to ask why the pipes had not been installed at about noon Tuesday.

Malit was in the same area and Lee asked him to come with him to an office. It was on their way to the office when Lee attacked Malit, the union report said. –Tonette Orejas, Central Luzon Desk