MANILA, Philippines – The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous drugs is conducting its second hearing on police involvement in "tokhang for ransom" on Thursday morning.
The hearing, led by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, will review the reported incidents of extortion and kidnap for ransom allegedly perpetrated by members of the Philippine National Police.
"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.
Police 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.
SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, the alleged killer, was invited to the inquiry, however, his wife was not allowed to attend the public hearing.
Watch the hearing here: