THE investigating teams tasked to probe the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo have asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) for more time to submit its findings, implicating alleged "tokhang for ransom" cops.
The Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday afternoon filed with the DOJ separate motions, seeking for an extension to file additional complaints against the authorities who abducted Jee last October 18.
The prosecutors tasked to handle the case, Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Juan Pedro Navera and Olivia Torrevillas, in the first hearing last February 3 have ordered both units to submit additional documents, pleadings or complaint-affidavits until February 8.
However, both failed to submit the documents required and instead asked the prosecutors for more days to conclude its probe.
"In order to have ample time to prepare the formal charge and to include other evidence not yet included which is yet to be obtained, the undersigned is constrained to ask for a 15-day period of extension within which to file the form charge," the motion filed by the PNP-AKG reads.
Meanwhile, the NBI in a two-page motion asked the DOJ for an additional 20 days of probe extension to properly "determine the additional charges to be filed" against the respondents.
"In order to come up with a comprehensive, susbtantiated, and systematized report, however, the NBI Team will need additional 20 days from 8 February 2017 or until 28 February 2017, within which to do so," the NBI's motion said.
Facing Kidnapping for Ransom and Serious Illegal Detention complaints filed by the PNP-AKG are Police Supt. Rafael Dumlao, the alleged mastermind in the kidnapping of Jee as well as SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, SPO4 Roy Villegas, PO2 Christopher Baldovino, Ramon Yalung, Jerry Omlang, Gerardo Gregorio Santiago and Christopher Alan Gruenberg.
The said respondents are set to file their respective counter-affidavits in answer to the accusations against them in the next hearing on February 16 at 2 p.m.
The reinvestigation on the case against eight alleged kidnappers involved in the abduction of Jee was conducted by the DOJ, in compliance with the order of Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 58 to probe the case anew following its grant on the motion of Sta. Isabel, who was earlier charged for Kidnapping for Ransom with Homicide by the resolution issued by the DOJ on January 19.
Jee was killed in Camp Crame by a group of policemen belonging to the PNP Anti Illegal Drugs Group after he was abducted at his residence in Angeles, Pampanga.
The case of Jee has prompted PNP Director General Ronald Dela Rosa to dismantle the unit, and shift priorities from war against illegal drugs to war against rogue cops. (SunStar Philippines)