Court orders transfer of suspects in Jee Ick Joo slay to Angeles jail

The Angeles City Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Pampanga ordered the transfer of the three suspects, including two policemen, in the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo to the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). (PNA file photo)

MANILA — The Angeles City Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Pampanga ordered the transfer of the three suspects, including two policemen, in the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo to the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

In a four-page order, Judge Irin Zenaida Buan of the Angeles City RTC (RTC) Branch 56 granted the request of state prosecutors for the transfer of Supt. Rafael Dumlao, SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel and civilian Jerry Omlang.

Dumlao, detained at PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City; and Sta. Isabel and Omlang, who are both detained at the National Bureau of Investigation Custodial Center in Manila, will be transferred to the Angeles City Jail.

Dumlao’s motion for reconsideration, which sought a reversal of the court’s earlier transfer order, was denied “for lack of merit.”

Citing the Rules on Criminal Procedure, Buan pointed out that under the rules “an accused shall be delivered to the nearest police station or jail without necessary delay.”

“Considering the distance between this Court and the PNP Custodial Center as well as the NBI detention facility, it would be more practical for the accused to be detained at the city jail in order to facilitate their attendance during court hearings of their cases,” read the court’s ruling.

“As regards the claim of the accused that their transfer to and detention in the city jail will pose as a threat to their safety, security and life, the Court holds that the said argument lacks sufficient basis,” the judge added.

The judge also reminded the court is duty bound to comply with the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) Circular No. 76-2010 which “prohibits lower court from ordering the detention of an accused at the PNP Custodial Center.”

The three along with retired policeman Gerardo Santiago are facing charges of kidnapping for ransom with homicide, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, and carnapping.

The DOJ prosecutors handling the case are Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Juan Pedro Navera and Olivia Torrevillas, and Assistant State Prosecutor Ethel Rhea Suril.

Jee and and his household helper, Marisa Morquicho were abducted on Oct. 18, 2016 from his home in Friendship Plaza Subdivision, Angeles City under the pretext that police were conducting anti-illegal drugs operations under “Oplan Tokhang.”

He was strangled to death inside the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame on the same day he was kidnapped, his cremated remains reportedly flushed down the toilet. Morquicho was eventually released.

Although the victim was already dead, the suspects still contacted Jee’s wife, Kyungjin Choi, on October 30, 2016 and demanded ransom for his release.

After a series of negotiations, Choi delivered PHP5 million in ransom money in front of the Central Town Mall in Porac, Pampanga on October 31, 2016.

On November 2, 2016, the suspects demanded an additional PHP4 million but Choi refused after they failed to show proof of life.