MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to decide who among the suspects in the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo in October last year can be enrolled in its witness protection program (WPP).
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the joint inquiry of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) would need to be concluded before the DOJ could determine the people who would be admitted as state witnesses.
Gerardo Santiago, owner of Gream funeral parlor, has applied for WPP coverage after admitting his involvement in the cremation of Jee’s body. He denied any hand in the abduction and subsequent killing.
State witnesses enjoy several privileges, which include housing facility or safe house that could be extended to family members, financial assistance, help in obtaining means of livelihood and payment for absences in work, travel expenses and medical expenses.
Free college education for dependents is also given for those who die while still under WPP.
Jerry Omlang, a “striker” or errand boy of the NBI, also surrendered for protective custody earlier. He was allegedly among those who forcibly took Jee from his home in Pampanga.
Senior Police Officer 3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, Jee’s alleged killer, is also under NBI custody.
Both Sta. Isabel and Omlang tagged Supt. Rafael Dumlao, former head of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group in Pampanga (AIDG), as mastermind.
Also involved in the ongoing re-investigation are Senior Police Officers 4 Roy Villegas and Ramon Yalung; Police Officer 2 Christopher Baldovino; Marisa Dawis Morquicho, Jee’s househelp who was kidnapped with him; and Christopher Alan Gruenberg, owner of one of the private vehicles used during the alleged anti-narcotics operation.
Aguirre also said investigators are looking into the possibility that a mafia was behind the killing of Jee.
“We have received information that there were Koreans possibly involved in a syndicate behind this (case), but I cannot divulge for now because it would be premature. Our office is coordinating and contacting the Korean embassy if they have a police attaché or anyone to that effect that could help us about this Korean mafia, if ever it exists,” he further bared.
Aguirre, who believes Jee’s death is more than just a kidnap-for-ransom case, stressed that “every angle and theory will be covered by the joint investigation.”
“If the target is to ask for ransom, why would you kill the victim a few hours after abducting him?” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa urged the public yesterday to help in cleansing the PNP ranks by sending information about policemen involved in extortion and abuses to 0998-9702286.
He said the Counter Intelligence Task Force, which is spearheading the cleansing process, is ready to receive complaints against undisciplined and abusive policemen. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe