LIVE: Senate probe into ‘tokhang for ransom’

MANILA, Philippines – Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous drugs is set to conduct a hearing on the police involvement into the “tokhang for ransom” on Thursday morning.

The hearing, led by Senate panel chair Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, will review the reported incidents of kidnap for ransom perpetrated by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"Oplan tokhang" is among the PNP’s initiatives as part of President Rodrigo Duterte war on drugs. Police officers knock on doors of suspected drug personalities and plead for them to surrender.

The hearing was prompted after Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo was killed. Cops allegedly issued a fake warrant of arrest against the businessman in October 2016 to hold him for ransom and killed him on the same day at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The perperators were able to extract P5 million as ransom payment from his wife, Choi Kyungjin, without telling her Jee is dead. 

Alleged killer of Jee, SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, was invited in the inquiry, however, his wife was not allowed to attend the public hearing.

Watch the hearing which will start at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2016: