The police commander of the Angeles City police which had the jurisdiction over the kidnap-slay case of a Korean businessman has been sacked.
Central Luzon regional police director Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino said that police chief Sr. Supt. Sidney Villaflor has been relieved from his post after seven of his men were implicated in the abduction and murder of South Korean executive Jee Ick Joo.
“The relief has nothing to do on whether or not he is involved. The relief is purely because of command responsibility, that he should take full responsibility for the illegal actions of his men,” said Aquino.
The seven rogue policemen earlier named by the PNP are PO1 Jayson Ibe, PO1 Ruben Rodriguez II, PO1 Mark Joseph Pineda, PO2 Richard King Agapito, PO3 Arnold Nagayo, PO3 Roentjen Domingo and PO3 Gomerson Evangelista.
Aquino said the accused policemen were named by the PNP based on the witnesses accounts and complaints.
On October 18 last year, Jee was kidnapped allegedly by the group of SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel under the guise of a legitimate police operation of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group.
He was taken to Camp Crame where he was reportedly strangled to death before demanding P5-million ransom from the victim’s wife.
“The PNP-Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) is really determined to file charges against the seven policemen that is why we are expediting our investigation,’’ said Aquino. “Initially, naging mahirap sa amin at halos kaladkarin na rin namin itong mga Koreano to file (criminal) charges against the policemen pero naging traumatic para sa kanila yung pangyayari. Pero kailangan talaga makasuhan na ito kasi baka matagal nang gawain ng pitong ito ang pangingidnap ng Koreans.’’
Aquino said seven policemen assigned to the Station 5 of Angeles City arrested three South Koreans who were in a vacation in the Philippines to play golf.
They were nabbed for their alleged involvement in on-line gaming and were taken to the police station. They were only freed after supposedly paying P300,000.
Aquino said he had earlier ordered the relief and placement under restrictive custody the involved cops identified as Police Officers 3 Arnold Nagayo, Roentjen Domingo and Gomerson Evangelista; Police Officer 2 Ruben Rodriguez; and Police Officers 1 Jayson Ibe and Mark Joseph Pineda.
The station commander of the Station 5 of Angeles City, Chief Insp. Wendel Arinas and his deputy, Senior Insp. Rolando Yutuc, were also sacked for command responsibility.
The three Koreans have already left the country but they filed complaint before the South Korean Embassy, which in turn, reported the incident to the PNP. (With a report from Franco Regala) (AARON RECUENCO)
