What happened to the Jee Ick Joo kidnap-slay case?

There has been little progress on the case against police officers and other personalities implicated in the controversial kidnap-slay of South Korean national Jee Ick Joo a year after his death.

Yesterday, Jee’s wife, along with some police officials and South Koreans commemorated the first death anniversary of the business executive at a parking lot inside the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City where he was believed to have been strangled to death.

The memorial activity was held past 2 p.m. yesterday. Jee’s relatives and friends lighted candles and offered flowers for the slain South Korean.

His death resulted in the PNP being eased out of the government’s relentless war on drugs.

Members of the media were not allowed to cover the event.

Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao, director of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), said court hearings are currently being held every month but it is currently focused on the motion for bail by two of the principal suspects – Supt. Rafael Dumlao and SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel.

“The hearing is focused on motion to bail but of course, we are fighting that move,” said Dumlao.

Jee was forcibly taken form his residence in Angeles City, Pampanga in October last year by operatives of the defunct Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) under the guise of a legitimate anti-illegal drugs operations.

Allegedly, some South Koreans who are members of criminal syndicates wanted Jee killed because he has been encouraging his countrymen not to yield to extortion schemes.

Jee was then taken to Camp Crame hours after he was taken from his home where he was later strangled to death.

His cadaver was cremated in an attempt to hide evidence.

But the group of Sta. Isabel still allegedly demanded ransom money from Jee’s family although he was already dead.

The fate of Jee was known after his wife sought the help of the media early this year.

The incident resulted in the disbandment of AIDG and the Palace decision to take out PNP in the anti-drugs war.