Lacson: PNP lost public trust, respect in Jee Ick Joo kidnap-slay

The kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo was an incident "enough for the police force to lose its public trust and respect," Senator Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday.

"The Jee Ick Joo kidnap slay case was indeed tragic and unfortunate but enough for the police force to lose public trust and respect," Lacson said in his opening statement during the first public hearing of the Senate committee on public order over kidnap for ransom cases allegedly perpetrated by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"Amid these appalling circumstances, we must ask ourselves, do our men in uniform lead by honor and pride of their police badges and outfits or should our people live in horror and fear unsure of their safety at the sight of the police force in their neighborhoods and even in their homes?" Lacson, former chief of the PNP, said.

Lacson pointed out the irony of holding an investigation on an "uncanny, conceivable, and totally unprecedent" incident, when the government just commemorated the fallen heroes of the Special Action Force (SAF) on Wednesday, January 25.

Lacson was referring to the 2015 Mamasapano incident, where more than 60 people, including 44 SAF members, died.

"Today, we stand among the partial ruins of an institution tasked to serve and protect the Filipino people just when we thought we will stand proud as we commemorated the heroism and valor of our fallen heroes," Lacson said.

Among those present in the hearing are PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, primary suspect SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, and Jee's wife, Choi Kyung Jin. — RSJ, GMA News