Jee's househelp points to Ricky Sta. Isabel as their abductor

The househelp of slain South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo on Thursday positively identified before lawmakers SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel as the one who abducted her employer and who withdrew money using her employer's ATM card.

"'Yung pumasok sa loob ng bahay si SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel," Marissa Dawis-Morquicho told the Senate committee investigating Jee's killing allegedly by policemen claiming to be performing an anti-illegal drug operation.

"Yes po, siya po," she said when asked by Senator Risa Hontiveros if Sta. Isabel was the same person she saw withdrawing money using Jee's ATM card.

Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao, head of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) that is also investigating the incident, said based on the CCTV footage they obtained, Sta. Isabel and a certain Jerry, allegedly a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent, made the withdrawal from an ATM in Greenhills, San Juan.

Morquicho was abducted together with Jee from his house in Angeles City, Pampanga, on October 18. She said she saw the suspects beating up Jee while they were inside the vehicle on their way to Metro Manila.

"Pagkasakay ko po doon ay nakita ko si Sir Ick Joo Jee na nasa likuran ng sasakyan at nakaposas ito at pinagitnaan ng dalawang lalaki," Morquicho said in her affidavit earlier given to investigators.

"Habang nasa biyahe po kami ay tinatanong naririnig ko na tinatanong nila si Sir Ick na sabihin na daw nito kung sino ang supplier niya ng drugs at sumagot naman si sir na wala siyang alam," she added.

During the hearing, Morquicho said she did not witness the killing of Jee as she was transferred to a different vehicle and later on given P1,000 before being dropped off in Cubao, Quezon City.

Despite Morquicho's positive identification, Sta. Isabel denied that he was present when the abduction happened.

"Wala po ako doon sa Pampanga noon, may katibayan ako na wala ako doon. Pinapunta lang po ako sa Crame ni Atty. [Rafael] Dumlao," he said, adding that Dumlao instructed him to go to the PNP Grandstand.

He said it was at that point that he saw Jee.

"Pagpunta ko sa Crame, pinapunta niya ako sa grandstand. Pagbukas ko ng pinto nakita ko pinapalo niya ng kalibre .45 ung Koreano. Nakaharap si Atty. Dumlao sa Koreano, pinapalo niya ng kalibre .45 yan," he said.

He said he did nothing to stop Dumlao as he thought it was a legitimate operation since it has a pre-operation document. He also claimed that the operation has coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

He added that he cannot go against the wishes of Dumlao, his superior.

"Wala akong magagawa dahil PNCO (police non-commissioned officer) lang ako at may tao siyang dala, naka-blindfold pa po ung Koreano nun… lawyer po siya, superior ko pa po," Sta. Isabel said.

He further said that he brought the remains of Jee to Gream Funeral Parlor in Brgy. Bagbaguin, Caloocan City upon the orders of Dumlao.

"Inutusan ako ni Col. Dumlao na i-guide siya papunta ng punerarya dahil nakausap na niya ang may-ari at nagpa-withdraw na siya ng pambayad sa punerarya at napatawaran pa ng hanggang P30,000. Silang dalawa talaga ang nag-usap," he said.

He was referring to Gream Funeral Parlor owner and Bagbaguin chairman Gerardo Gregorio "Ding" Santiago. —KBK, GMA News