Respondents in Korean kidnap-slay fail to submit counter affidavits
ALL respondents facing kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the kidnapslay of South Korean national Jee Ick-joo have failed to submit their counter-affidavits during a preliminary investigation on Thursday.
This was after the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) asked the panel of prosecutors for additional time to submit additional charges against the eight respondents, including prime suspects SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel and Police Superintendent Rafael Dumlao.
The PNP represented by lawyer Dennis Wagas and the NBI represented by lawyer Joseph Martinez have manifested before the panel that they are both still waiting for an affidavit that will further strengthen the case to conclude their probe.
Acting on their motion, prosecutors Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Juan Pedro Navera and Olivia Torrevillas directed them to file their supplemental complaints until Monday.
The prosecutors likewise directed the respondents to file their respective counter affidavits in the next hearing on March 2, 2 p.m.
Aside from Dumlao, who was head of Pampanga Anti-illegal Drugs Group (AIDG), and Sta. Isabel, other respondents are: SPO4 Roy Villegas, PO2 Christopher Baldovino, Ramon Yalung, Jerry Omlang, Gerardo Gregorio Santiago and Christopher Alan Gruenberg. All respondents attended the hearing.
The prosecutors, who are reinvestigating the case as ordered by Angeles, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 58 Judge Irineo Pangilinan Jr., have until April 16 to conduct the probe.
Jee was killed in Camp Crame after he was kidnapped on October 18.
Choi withdraws cases filed in NBI
In a related development, lawyer Bryan Bantilan, the legal counsel of Jee's wife Choi Kyung-jin, has manifested before the panel that his client has submitted a letter with the NBI withdrawing the carnapping and robbery complaints filed against the authorities involved in Jee's abduction.
According to Bantilan, he did not know the reason why Choi requested the withdrawal of
the case. He said the letter request was a "sealed" and "private."
Asked if he thinks it was because of the alleged involvement of some NBI agents on the issue, he said "perhaps yes."
Four NBI officials have been relieved from their posts last February 2 after they were tagged in the kidnapping of Jee.
The NBI has yet to answer the request of Choi.