PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa said Monday that the cop involved in the kidnapping of a Korean businessman in Angeles city, Pampanga was backed by a former police general.
He said Senior Police Office 3 Ricky Sta. Isabel is being protected by a retired police official who is among the narco-generals named by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Meron siyang bossing na gustong sirain ang war on drugs ng PNP kaya ipinasok siya doon sa AIDG (PNP-Anti-illegal Drugs Group). Nag-retire na ‘yun,” said Dela Rosa, adding that Sta. Isabel attempted to apply for a position at the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) but did not pass.
Before he was accepted at the AIDG, Sta. Isabel faced a kidnapping case before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the abduction of a certain Mylene Tan in Caloocan. However, the said case was dismissed by the DOJ.
Superintendent Raphael Dumlao, Sta Isabel’s team leader at the AIDG, said they were not able to trace the latter’s kidnapping case during their background check.
He said Sta. Isabel’s previous kidnapping case only came to their knowledge after he was implicated in the abduction of Jee Ick-joo, a South Korean businessman who was forcibly taken in his Angeles city home, reportedly by suspects who introduced themselves as members of the PNP-AIDG.
Authorities are still conducting operations to identify the whereabouts of Ick-joo and his abductors.
Dela Rosa said that in total, there are nine persons involved in Ick-joo’s abduction, including three active policemen, a retired police personnel, a Korean national and three civilians.
“’Yung retired na high-value target namin sa ngayon, sumibat na sa Canada...May dalawa pang pulis na nagoyo niya (Sta. Isabel) na legitimate operations daw ang gagawin nila...Hawak na sila ng director ng AIDG [‘yung dalawang pulis],” said Dela Rosa.
On Monday morning, Sta. Isabel turned himself to the National Bureau of Investigation as he refused to be under the custody of the PNP.
Sta. Isabel broke his silence last Friday after Dela Rosa ordered a manhunt operation against him due to the said kidnapping case. However, he denied he was hiding and said he was reporting to the PNP headquarters daily after he was relieved from his post.
Sta. Isabel had also rendered his resignation to the PNP. (SunStar Philippines)