The kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo has triggered a major shakedown in the anti-kidnapping and anti-narcotics units of the Philippine National Police.
Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa, PNP chief, said he has ordered a major revamp in the Anti-Kidnapping Group and the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group in light of the case that put the PNP on bad light.
“I want to make sure that those assigned in the anti-illegal drugs operations are clean. We will push for background investigation and we will check all the background of personnel assigned there. If they have problems, we will remove them,” said Dela Rosa.
“I am also dissatisfied with how the AKG handled the investigation of the case of the Korean. Why is it that it took so long before they had a good development of the case,” he added.
Dela Rosa said AIDG director Senior Supt. Albert Ignatius Ferro and AKG chief Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao will stay.
The PNP chief said Ferro has offered his resignation to President Duterte but was turned down due to his accomplishments while Dela Rosa said it was only when Dumlao headed the AKG that the case of Jee was solved.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa disclosed that seven policemen assigned in Angeles City were sacked from their posts for their alleged involvement in the robbery extortion of three South Korean tourists.
They were identified as Police Officers 3 Arnold Nagayo, Roentjen Domingo, and Gomerson Evangelista; Police Officers 2 Richard King Agapito and Ruben Rodriguez; and Police Officers 1 Jayson Ibe and Mark Joseph Pineda.
He said that the victims were only in a vacation in the country but were arrested after they were accused of engaging in on-line gaming. The victims were only freed after allegedly paying P200,000, according to Dela Rosa.
“They are now under restrictive custody. They will be slapped with administrative charges,” said dela Rosa.
The commander of Station 5 where the policemen were assigned, Chief Insp. Wendel Arinas and his deputy, Senior Insp. Rolando Yutuc, were also sacked for command responsibility.
Dela Rosa also disclosed that two assets of the National Bureau of Investigation are involved in the kidnapping of Jee. One of them, he said, was identified as a certain “Jerry.”
“There are two NBI assets and even the NBI confirmed it. One of them is even a driver of an NBI official with a rank of director,” said Dela Rosa. (Aaron B. Recuenco)