THERE is no guarantee that former Lieutenant Colonel Raphael Dumlao who was dismissed from service over his alleged involvement in the killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo can return to active duty status following his acquittal from criminal charges in relation to the murder case.

In an interview with reporters, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo noted that Dumlao was dismissed from the service in 2018 after he was found guilty of grave misconduct.

“So kailangan natin tingnan ‘yung record kung siya ba ay nag-appeal pero mahabang proseso ito... Hindi ibig sabihin na nadismiss na ‘yung kanyang criminal case ay magreresulta ito ng pagbalik niya sa serbisyo... Separate thing ‘yung dismissal niya as a result nung administrative case na isinampa sa kanya,” said Fajardo.

(So we have to look at the record if he appealed but it is a long process... It does not mean that the dismissal of his criminal case will result in his return to service... His dismissal was a result of the administrative case filed against him.)

“So it will take years bago mareverse itong kasong administratibo niya... Ito pong pagkakadismiss ng criminal case niya bagamat puwede niyang gamitin yan pero separate ang mga ebidensyang inihain pagdating doon sa administrative case at dito sa criminal case. Hindi ibig sabihin na nadismiss ‘yung kanyang criminal case ay magreresulta yun ng pagkakadismiss ng administrative case niya,” she reiterated.

(So it will take years before this administrative case is reversed... Although he can use the dismissal of his criminal case, the evidence presented is separate when it comes to the administrative case. It does not mean that the dismissal of his criminal case will result in the dismissal of his administrative case.)

An exclusive report of ABS-CBN stated that Angeles Regional Trial Court Branch 60 handed down its decision on Jee’s case on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, acquitting Dumlao of all three charges, such as kidnapping with homicide, kidnapping with serious illegal detention and carnapping.

The court convicted former Senior Police Officer 3 Ricky Sta. Isabel and former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) aide Jerry Omlang and sentenced them to life imprisonment for all the cases.

Jee was abducted by policemen led by Sta. Isabel in his residence in Friendship Subdivision in Angeles Pampanga on October 18, 2016, and implicated him in illegal drug operations.

Marisa Morquicho, his household helper, was also abducted but was later released by the police.

The incident broke in the news three months later.

Dumlao, then the former chief of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, was identified as the mastermind of Jee’s abduction, as well as his killing, which happened inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, based on the testimonies of Sta. Isabel. (SunStar Philippines)