A retired policeman who is one of the suspects in the kidnapping-for-ransom of Korean trader Jee Ickjoo in the guise of “Oplan Tokhang” has managed to slip out of the country.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has ordered the Bureau of Immigration to place SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, another suspect in the kidnapping, in the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) even though he has already surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“Yung isa sa mga suspect diyan na retired policeman nakaalis na, pumunta na ng Canada, disclosed Aguirre who learned about the escape Monday from Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
In the meantime, Aguirre said he will coordinate with Dela Rosa to undertake the necessary steps to get the suspect.
Also, Aguirre said that he would check if the rest of the other suspects in the kidnapping case are still in the Philippines.
The PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) has already filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against Sta. Ana and his group.
Aguirre said that the case has been submitted for resolution by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas, who is handling the case.
Torrevillas replaced Assistant State Prosecutor Loverhette Jeffrey Villordon who inhibited himself from the case after being accused by Sta. Isabel’s lawyer of pre-judging the case.
According to police report, the suspects barged into the house of Jee’s house in Angeles City in the guise of an “Oplan Tokhang” operation and dragged him and his maid into his black sports utility vehicle (SUV) on October 18, 2016.
After the abduction, the suspects texted the Korean’s wife, Choi Kyung-jin, and demanded a ransom payment of P8 million in exchange for Jee’s safe release.
Choi was able to raise P5 million and delivered it to the kidnappers, but the suspects did not release the victims.
The kidnappers contacted Choi three days later and demanded another P4.5 million, prompting her to contact the authorities.