In letter to Duterte, Korean’s widow wants NBI out of kidnap-murder case
KYUNGJIN CHOI, widow of slain Korean Ick Joo Jee, has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to stay out of the investigation of her husband’s kidnapping and murder in a Feb. 3 letter to President Rodrigo R. Duterte released to the media on Thursday, Feb. 16.
This was disclosed in the Department of Justice’s hearing on Thursday on the reinvestigation of the case.
Ms. Choi’s letter to Mr. Duterte as provided to the media that day read in part: “With the news that several high-ranking NBI personnel might also be involved, the NBI and PNP (Philippine National Police) have agreed to conduct a joint investigation of the case. However, I am afraid that this will only further delay the speedy resolution that you promised.”
“In this regard, I would like to request that instead of this joint NBI-PNP task force, the investigation be carried on by the PNP AntiKidnapping Group (AKG) for the simple reason that I do not trust the NBI to carry out an impartial investigation.”
“I also pray that all the results of the NBI’s initial investigation be formally turned over to the PNP, and for the NBI to cease and desist from further investigating this case.”
On the other hand, Ms. Choi’s letter to NBI Director- General Dante A. Gierran was brief and went thus: “With the recent developments of the case of kidnapping and murder of my husband, I would like to formally withdraw the criminal complaint I filed with your office. The said criminal complaint was formally filed and handled by your NBI-NCR Office and the Task Force on Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit.”
The DoJ, the NBI’s mother agency, noted that the NBI has yet to act on Ms. Choi’s request.
To recall, Senior Police Officer (SPO)3 Ricky M. Sta. Isabel, in an ambush interview after the hearing, said: “Walang NBI na involved dito. Puro bata lahat ni Atty. Dumalo dito. Mali ang theory nila na may involved na mga taga- NBI (No NBI agent is involved in the case. All those involved are men of Mr. Dumlao. The theory that NBI agents are involved is wrong).”
Mr. Sta. Isabel, tagged the primary suspect in the case, is currently under the protective custody of the NBI. He pointed to his supervisor Police Superintendent Rafael P. Dumlao of the now-disbanded Anti-Illegal Drugs Group as the mastermind of Mr. Jee’s kidnapping on Oct. 19 last year and his strangulation right in the PNP headquarters of Camp Crame that day.
The Department of Justice (DoJ), through Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Laroza-Torrevillas, identified three policemen as accused in the kidnapping for ransom with homicide case — Mr. Sta. Isabel, SPO4 Roy Villegas, and SPO4 Ramon Yalung. Other suspects tagged in the case were identified only through aliases “Pulis,” “Ding,” “Jerry,” and “Sir Dumlao,” when the information was filed before the Angeles, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 58 on Jan. 19 this year.
The trial court ordered a reinvestigation of the case, approving the motion filed by Mr. Sta. Isabel. The DoJ, led by Ms. Torrevillas and Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro C. Navera, held its first hearing on the reinvestigation on Feb. 3.
In the second hearing of the case yesterday, the confusion on the joint task force in the probe was also brought up.
To note, the PNP-AKG is the public complainant in the case, but the NBI is also pursuing its probe. Many have pointed out the seemingly conflicting directions between the two inquiries, and Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, in a Senate hearing last Jan. 26, noted this “clash of theories,” saying this “should be reconciled, otherwise it will weaken the case.”
Mr. Navera for his part asked: “How joint is this task force? If this were really a task force, we would be receiving one motion for extension. Is there really a joint task force to speak of?”
The NBI, on Feb. 10, filed a pleading to extend to another 20 days the period for filing their motion, while the PNP-AKG in a separate motion asked for an extension of 15 days.
Ms. Torrevillas, for her part, asked if “there (is) a written order creating the task force?”
The NBI said it has completed its investigation and has submitted its report to the PNP-AKG.
Noting the importance of the local court’s scheduled arraignment on April 19, the DoJ has cut short the extension to file additional pleadings to just 3 days or Monday, Feb. 10.
The next hearing is scheduled on March 2, 2:00 p.m.