De Lima: CCTV footage fail to show Sta. Isabel in Jee kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police presented evidence in the Senate hearing that would prove the involvement of SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel in the kidnap-slay of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.

PNP-Anti Kidnapping Group (AKG) director Senior Superintendent Glenn Dumlao showed a series of closed-circuit television camera footage exhibiting the supposed vehicle of Sta. Isabel used to abduct Jee in his residence in Angeles, Pampanga.

The videos showed footage before, during and after the abduction last Oct. 18, 2016, including one taken by the victim’s neighbor.

Sen. Leila de Lima, however, was not convinced that the videos could prove Sta. Isabel’s presence in the crime.

“Wala ba clearer projection of this?” De Lima asked. “Interesado kami kung makikita clearly, positively.”

Dumlao continued annotating the video and said Sta. Isabel was wearing a blue shirt when he alighted from his vehicle before going inside the house of Jee.

“Malabo… Hindi kita si Sta. Isabel, mayroon ba kayo pwedeng mapakita na mukha talaga niya,” De Lima said. “It is not enough to say na si Sta. Isabel andyan.”

‘Kambal plaka’

The alleged mastermind defended himself and said it was not his car shown in the video despite having the same color and plate number.

Sta. Isabel argued his plate number was duplicated and explained that his car is tinted and has a carrier.

“Common sense lang, mangingidnap ba ako gamit ang family car,” he said.

To which committee on public order chairman Sen. Panfilo Lacson replied:“Yun nga, tama, walang common sense.”

Sta. Isabel insisted he was in Metro Manila when the kidnapping happened.