Widow won’t leave Phl without justice
Slain South Korean kidnap victim Jee Ick-joo wanted to have a business, grow old in the country and help poor children to show he had fallen in love with the Philippines.
But fate had been unkind to him and his widow, Choi Kyung-jin. Choi has vowed not to leave the country until her
husband gets justice.
A teary-eyed Choi appeared before the Senate on Thursday during a hearing into the kidnapping and killing of her 53-year old husband, a former executive of Hanjin Shipping Co., by rogue police officers in October last year. She appealed for the immediate resolution of the case.
“Justice must be served by showing that the criminals are being penalized and being punished for offense that they did,” Choi told the inquiry of the Senate committee on public order through an interpreter.
“I’ll be keeping an eye out until justice is completely served and until the end of this case. It is not only the Filipino citizens but all the Korean citizens in the Philippines and in Korea are keeping an eye on this situation,” she said.
Choi said her husband, “who is in heaven,” is also awaiting justice to be served.
Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, who spoke with Choi on the sidelines of the hearing, disclosed the widow’s vow to stay in the country and seek justice for her husband.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the committee, assured Choi that she is not alone in her quest for justice.
“The entire Filipino people will be behind you on this,” Lacson said.
The senator told Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa during the hearing that at stake is not only the police organization but the reputation of the country before the international community.
In a meeting with officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier, Choi told them of their plans to grow old and permanently stay in the Philippines.
“She (Choi) told me of their plans: to stay in the Philippines, put up a business and even establish a foundation for poor Filipino children,” NBI Task Force Against Illegal Drugs chief Ruel Bolivar earlier told reporters.
Jee was kidnapped along with the couple’s maid – Marisa Morquicho – in their house in a subdivision in Angeles City last Oct. 18 by members of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) allegedly led by Senior Police Officer 3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, who accused the victim of being involved in drugs.
The two were blindfolded and shoved into a black Toyota Hilux pickup that was later found to be registered in the name of Sta. Isabel’s wife.
Choi later told investigators that valuables and other personal possessions worth over half a million pesos were also taken by the police officers.
The widow paid P5 million on Oct. 31 to save her husband despite lack of proof that her husband was still alive.
Kidnappers later demanded P4.5 million but Choi could not pay up and she later received a text saying “game over.”
Investigation later showed that Jee was killed on the same day he was kidnapped, the victim allegedly strangled by Sta. Isabel. Morquicho was freed also on that day.
Jee’s remains were brought to a funeral parlor in Caloocan City and illegally cremated with his body registered under a different name.
The kidnapping was reported only on Jan. 19 this year after Choi offered a reward for information on her husband’s whereabouts.
Conflicting investigations
During the hearing, Lacson and Sen. Leila de Lima pointed out the differing angles being pursued by the PNP and the NBI that could jeopardize the case.
Lacson warned lawyers of the accused could raise the matter before the courts and prompt the judge to dismiss the charges.
Lacson asked President Duterte to intervene and ask the PNP and the NBI to “get their act together to build up an airtight case against the perpetrators.”
De Lima said while both the PNP and NBI investigation have tagged Sta. Isabel and his superior at the AIDG, Superintendent Rafael Dumlao, the NBI appears to be looking higher within the police organization.