DOJ finds cause to charge cops, others for Jee Ick Joo kidnap-slay

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has found probable cause to file kidnapping for ransom with homicide raps against two policemen and five others in connection with the abduction and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo in October.

Facing charges for the heinous slay of Jee Ick Joo are SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, SPO4 Roy Villegas, Ramon Yalung and four people identified only under the aliases "Pulis," "Jerry," "Sir Dumlao" and "Ding."

The DOJ relied on the testimonies of Villegas, PO2 Christopher Baldovino, and Jee's househelp Marisa Morquicho in establishing probable cause against the respondents.

Villegas said it was Sta. Isabel who strangled Jee to death, according to the resolution prepared by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas dated January 17.

"As the victim was killed during and in the course of his detention, respondents who acted in conspiracy are liable for the special complex crime of kidnapping for ransom and homicide," the resolution stated. 

Abduction in Pampanga

Jee was abducted together with Morquicho from his home in Angeles City, Pampanga by armed men on October 18.

His wife, Choi Kyung Jin, said eight armed men, including Sta. Isabel who is connected with the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, took their personal property, jewelry, and her passport as well as her daughter's.

The househelp was subsequently freed but Jee, despite the P5 million ransom paid by Choi, was not released.

Choi then asked for assistance from the police and put up a P100,000 reward for any information regarding the whereabouts of her husband.

Jee's death was announced on Tuesday after government agents discovered the funeral home in Caloocan City where the South Korean's body was taken on the same day he was abducted.

Packaging tape, surgical gloves

According to the resolution, Jee was brought to Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP), after he was abducted. 

Villegas said he noticed Sta. Isabel was talking with Sir Dumlao and overheard their conversation. 

Villegas added Sta. Isabel brought a packaging tape and surgical gloves and instructed them to cover Jee's head. 

"When he (Villegas) asked the respondent (Sta. Isabel) for what reason, the latter instructed them to obey his order and not that of Dumlao. He finally recalled seeing respondent Sta. Isabel strangling and killing the victim," the DOJ said. 

Villegas claimed that after Jee was killed, he called up Ding who agreed to receive Jee's body in exchange for P30,000 and a golf set, which was recovered by the police during a search operation on Wednesday at Gream Funeral Services in Bagbaguin, Caloocan City owned by Barangay 165 chairman Gerardo Santiago. 

"They brought the body of the victim to a funeral parlor. They also disposed the cellular phones of the victim and the female person upon the instruction of respondent Sta. Isabel," the resolution read.

The police officer said he thought all along that the surveillance and police operations which he participated in were legitimate police operations. 

"When Villegas realized it, he did not resist, and instead he obeyed the instruction of Sta. Isabel for fear of his life and that of his family," the resolution stated. 

Baldovino, on the other hand, said he joined in the surveillance operation on October 4, 2016 against Jee. 

Recalling the day of the incident, Morquicho said two men introduced themselves as police officers and instructed her to bring them to Jee's room.

The two men then searched the area including the adjacent room before Morquicho and Jee were loaded into the businessman's black SUV. 

Morquicho said that while on their way to Manila, the armed men informed her that the bag, which was recovered from Jee's home, contained illegal drugs and that her boss was involved in the illegal drug trade. 

After arriving at Camp Crame, Morquicho said she was transferred to Sta. Isabel’s car and was released in the early morning of the following day in Cubao, Quezon City.

Morquicho's claim of serious illegal detention will be assessed in another preliminary investigation by the DOJ. 

The DOJ said the respondents did not refute the evidence and the testimonies of Morquicho, the victim’s wife Choi Kyungjin, Villegas and Baldovin. 

Sta. Isabel even moved for the inhibition of the first handling prosecutor Jhalmar Quintana Jr., prompting Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to order Assistant State Prosecutor Loverhette Jeffrey Villordon to continue the preliminary investigation.

Aguirre later on tossed the complaints to Torrevillas for resolution. — NB/RSJ, GMA News