Pampanga court orders accused in Korean kidnap-slay transferred to Angeles City Jail

August 23, 2018

A regional trial court in Pampanga has ordered three accused police officers and a civilian allegedly involved in the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo in October 2016 to be transferred to the Angeles City Jail from the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation custodial center.

In a four-page order, a copy of which furnished the Department of Justice Wednesday, Judge Erin Zenaida Buan of Angeles City, Regional Trial Court Branch 56, granted the motion of government prosecutors for the transfer of Superintendent Rafael Dumlao III, Senior Police Officer 2 Ricky Sta. Isabel and Jerry Umlang to the Angeles City Jail.

The court cited practical reason in ordering the transfer of Dumlao from the Philippine National Police custodial center and of Sta. Isabel and Umlang from the NBI.

"Considering the distance between this Court and the PNP Custodial center as well as the NBI detention facility, it would be more practical for the accused to be detained at the city hail in order to facilitate their attendance during court hearings of their cases," the RTC ruling stated.

Dumlao, Sta. Isabel and Omlang are three of the accused facing kidnapping for ransom with homicide case before the Angeles City Regional Trial Court.

Also accused were Gerardo Santiago, owner of the Gream Funeral Services where Jee's body  was brought, and SPO4 Roy Villegas, who turned state witness.

Jee was abducted on Oct.18, 2016 and killed inside Camp Crame. His body was not recovered and reportedly cremated and flushed in the toilet of the funeral home.

The Philippines apologized to South Korea over the incident. DMS