3 more cops held for Korean’s kidnap

MANILA, Philippines - Three more police officers have been placed under restrictive custody in connection with the kidnapping of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, a Philippine National Police (PNP) official said yesterday.

The officers are under investigation by the Anti-Kidnapping Group, said Senior Superintendent Albert Ferro, Anti-Illegal Drugs Group director.

“If found guilty they will be administratively charged… and prosecuted,” he said in a briefing at Camp Crame.

The three lawmen – an official and two non-commissioned officers – and Senior Police Officer 3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, accused of masterminding the kidnapping, are all assigned at the AIDG. Sta. Isabel surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as he felt the PNP was ganging up on him.

Ferro did not name the official except to say he was Sta. Isabel’s team leader and holds the rank of colonel (senior superintendent), citing the ongoing investigation.

A source identified the three as Superintendent Raphael Dumlao, Sta. Isabel’s team leader, Senior Police Officer 4 Roy Villegas and Police Officer 2 Christopher Baldomino.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Baldomino initially joined Sta. Isabel’s group in a casing operation against Jee but backed out of subsequent activities when he realized something was wrong.

“He found out the arrest warrant was fake so he backed out,” the source said.

Villegas, meanwhile, was involved from start to the time Jee was “arrested” on purported drug charges. He claimed he joined the operation thinking it was a legitimate one.

The source said Dumlao is also being investigated as he is the official with direct supervision over Sta. Isabel.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa earlier said aside from Sta. Isabel and a former policeman, another South Korean was also involved in Jee’s kidnapping in Angeles City, Pampanga on Oct. 18, 2016.

Dela Rosa said Sta. Isabel was protected by a retired police general who was among the alleged “narco generals” earlier named by President Duterte: Marcelo Garbo, Vicente Loot, Joel Pagdilao, Edgardo Tinio and Bernardo Diaz.

Ferro said the businessman’s name is not included in the AIDG’s list of drug suspects.

He said they never sanctioned an operation against Jee, noting that the kidnapping was staged when he and other officers were in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for the turnover of confessed drug lord Roland “Kerwin” Espinosa.

Ferro said Sta. Isabel’s claim that he obtained a pre-operational clearance to scout for a safehouse near Jee’s residence is suspicious. He said looking for a safehouse is not part of pre-operational procedure.

Sta. Isabel was assigned at AIDG sometime July last year after he was not accepted by the AKG for unknown reasons. As the policeman has no pending criminal cases, Ferro said Sta. Isabel was accepted into their roster.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said last night that Sta. Isabel may be placed in the government’s witness protection program after he confessed his participation in the crime and identified other police officers involved.

The Senate, on the other hand, is set to look into kidnappings by policemen under the guise of legitimate anti-drug operations.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed Senate Resolution 265 yesterday, directing the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs – which he chairs – to conduct an inquiry. The initial hearing could be held as early as next week. – With Edu Punay, Marvin Sy