SPO3 Sta. Isabel’s P17M net worth

MANILA -- Despite earning a measly P8,000 monthly salary, Senior Police Officer 3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, the cop tagged in the kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, has declared a P17.3 million net worth in 2015, a police official said Thursday.

In the opening of Senate inquiry on the alleged "tokhang for ransom" scheme of some policemen, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Chief Superintendent Roel Obusan said Sta. Isabel has P14.4 million worth of assets and P2.9 million in real and personal properties, which he listed in his 2015 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

He also said that based on Sta. Isabel’s declaration, he has 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 also declared liabilities worth P3 million.

In 2014, Sta. Isabel declared a net worth of P20.3 million.

Despite revealing that he only receives P8,000 monthly salary as a cop, 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 taken care of 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 Lacson 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. TAPM/SunStar Philippines