AN ANGELES City court has issued an arrest warrant against the policemen involved in the abduction and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II confirmed on Friday.
In a chance interview at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Aguirre said Angeles City Pampanga Regional Trial Court branch 58 has already released an arrest order against SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, SPO4 Roy Villegas, Ramon Yalung and four other unidentified individuals involved in the abduction of Ick-joo.
"May arrest warrant na. Nalaman namin more than an hour ago," Aguirre said.
The DOJ in a resolution released on Thursday indicted the three policemen and four other unidentified suspects, namely alias "pulis", alias "Jerry", alias "Sir Dumlao and alias "Ding" for Kidnapping with Ransom with Homicide.
According to the DOJ chief, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will come to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) anytime to secure the custody of Sta. Isabel.
"Anytime dadating dito ang PNP to secure the custody of SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel," Aguirre said.
Sta. Isabel, the supposed leader of the group that kidnapped Ick-joo, had sought last Monday protective custody with the NBI following an order of PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa to conduct a manhunt operation against him.
Ick-joo was abducted at his residence in Friendship Plaza Subdivision in Angeles, Pampanga last October 18, 2016.
According to one of the charged cops, Sta. Isabel led the October 18 operation against Ick-joo. Implicating Sta. Isabel, Villegas also said he saw Sta. Isabel strangle the Korean national to death.
Further, he also disclosed that he overheard Sta. Isabel call a certain Ding to process the body of Ick-joo in exchange for P30,000 and a golf set. (SunStar Philippines)