Cop in Korean kidnap-slay has assets worth P17.3M

Sta. Isabel says wife maintains several businesses

Senior Police Officer 3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, the primary suspect tagged in the kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, claims to earn only P8,000 a month.

But he declared assets valued at P17.3 million in his 2015 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Chief Superintendent Roel Obusan said during the Senate inquiry on the alleged “tokhang for ransom” scheme of some policemen.

In 2014, Sta. Isabel declared a net worth of P20.3 million. Sta. Isabel is the primary suspect charged for the abduction and killing of Jee.

The Korean businessman was taken by men later identified as active police officers from his home in Angeles City, Pampanga on October 18 last year. He was later killed, allegedly by Sta. Isabel inside a car parked within Camp Crame, headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

His househelp, Marissa Morquicho, was also taken but was later released.

Along with Sta. Isabel, two other policemen and four other unidentified suspects were charged with kidnap for ransom with homicide before the court.

Based on Sta. Isabel’s 2015 SALN, he has assets worth P14.4 million and P2.9 million in real and personal properties. He declared liabilities amounting to P3 million. Obusan said Sta. Isabel listed five houses all in Bagombong, Caloocan, a four-storey commercial building in Cubao, Quezon City, and four vehicles: a 2014 Toyota Hi-Lux, a 2012 Toyota Vios, a 2014 Honda tricycle, and 2012 Kawasaki motorcycle.

Sta. Isabel said he acquired several loans from the PNP to support their businesses, including an insurance service firm, Western Union and Bayad Center branches, and a lotto outlet, all being managed by his wife, who is a law graduate.

“Sa sipag niya dahil sa insurance po, commission-based diyan kaya napalago yung business namin, lumaki po,” he said.

However, Senator Panfilo Lac- son urged the PNP to continue the conduct of financial investigation on Sta. Isabel. “Importante yan eh. Pag specialized unit o special unit ang pupuntahan, dapat hindi lang partial background investigation, complete background investigation [dapat] and record check, diba?” he said.

Enterprising and unscrupulous PNP personnel have found ways to make money out of Oplan Tokhang. SEN. PANFILO LACSON

SENATE HEARING. Choi Kyung-jin, left, widow of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, who was kidnapped and later killed by his abductors, and their former househelp Marissa Morquicho, confer at the start of the Senate investigation on the killing. /AP...