Kidnapping and killing of Jee Ick-Joo

Kidnapping and killing of Jee Ick-Joo
Part of the Philippine Drug War
Location Kidnapping:
Angeles, Pampanga
Body discovered:
Camp Crame, Quezon City, Philippines
Date October 18, 2016
Attack type
 Kidnapping, Extortion, Killing
Deaths Jee Ick-Joo
Victims 1, Jee Ick-Joo
Perpetrators ca. 8[1]
Suspected perpetrators
 1, househelp
Motive extortion, robbery
Accused Ricky Santa Isabel, et al.
Jee Ick-Joo
Hangul 지익주
Hanja 池益周
Revised Romanization Ji Ik-ju
McCune–Reischauer Chi Ig-chu

Jee Ick-Joo was a South Korean businessman who was kidnapped on October 18, 2016 and later found dead within the grounds of Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Killing

South Korean Jee Ick-Joo, a businessman, along with his house helper, was reportedly kidnapped by two unidentified men from Jee's residence in Friendship Plaza Subdivision, Angeles, Pampanga on October 18, 2016. After their arrest, the kidnappers—who turned out to be members of the Philippine National Police (PNP)—accused Jee of being involved in the illegal drug trade.[2] Jee's wife, Choi Kyung-jin, made the statement that the kidnappers Patrick Joseph Banez demanded a ransom of ₱8 million, and she reportedly paid ₱5 million on October 30, 2016. She said she did not give the kidnappers the remaining ₱3 million when they failed to present proof that Jee was still alive.[2] The house helper was released the day after she and Jee were kidnapped.[3]

Philippine authorities held an investigation into Jee's death, the result of which was relayed to South Korean authorities. The result of the investigation stated that Jee died due to strangulation, on the same day he was kidnapped, within the grounds of Camp Crame of the PNP.[4] On January 17, 2017, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) went to a funeral parlor in Bagbaguin, Caloocan where the body of Jee Ick-Joo was believed to have been brought.[3] His remains were cremated and his ashes were flushed down the toilet.[5]

Jee Ick-Joo's wife said that eight armed men, including SPO3 Ricky Santa Isabel, who is linked to the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, were involved in the kidnapping. She alleged that the group took their personal property, including jewelry and passports. Jee's househelper was also named as a suspect by the Angeles city police after she was found to have used a false name and been working at Jee's household for only two days.[6] The house helper is the main witness in the case.[3]

On February 3, according to PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa, unscrupulous members of the PNP and NBI could be behind the killing of Jee. Dela Rosa told the reporters at Camp Crame that "the picture is getting clearer and hopefully, the truth will soon come out".[7]

Reaction

Philippines

PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa offered to resign following the incident, but President Rodrigo Duterte did not accept the offer. Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella stated that Duterte did not accept the offer of resignation because he believed that dela Rosa can't be faulted for the killing since the suspected perpetrators are not part of his team, this while acknowledging that there is indeed corruption in the institution.[2] At the time of the kidnapping, Dela Rosa was in Beijing with the President for the state visit.[5]

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez called for the resignation of dela Rosa over the incident to spare the Duterte administration from further embarrassment but revoked the call after Duterte said dela Rosa did not need to resign.[8]

President Duterte apologized to South Korea for the incident, saying those responsible will be held accountable, additionally remarking that if imprisoned it would be best for them to escape, implying that he would have their heads sent to South Korea after being killed in prison.[9]

Members of South Korean community and sympathizers offered flowers and candles inside Camp Crame.[10]

South Korea

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned officials of the Philippine Embassy in South Korea to convey their deep concern over the killing of Jee Ick-Joo; no diplomatic protest was filed, however. The South Korean government, through its ministry, also called for the quick resolution of the case so that the perpetrators can be held accountable and to increase measures to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals in the Philippines. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs are cooperating with their South Korean counterparts over the case.[11]

South Korea, through its ambassador to the Philippines Jae-Shin Kim, accepted an apology by President Duterte on January 26, 2017, but reiterated calls for the quick resolution of the case. The South Korean government expressed that they are making efforts to "control the damage" and "calm down the feeling of the people" following the incident.[12] Acting South Korean President Hwang Kyo-ahn also accepted an apology conveyed by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, who traveled to Seoul to meet with Hwang and personally convey the apology to him.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Alcaide, Marlene (17 January 2017). "'Tokhang for Ransom': NBI finds Korean victim Jee Ick-Joo – in mortuary". interaksyon.com. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 NPNO Staff (24 January 2017). "Palace Defends Pres. Duterte Decision Not to Accept Dela Rosa's Resignation". Northbound Philippines News Online. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Lope, Virgil (17 January 2017). "NBI Says Kidnapped South Korean Businessman is Dead". GMA News. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  4. ↑ ABS-CBN Staff (17 January 2017). "'Kidnapped South Korean was killed by Filipino cops'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Gierran says no one in NBI involved in Jee Ick Joo kidnap-slay". GMA News. December 30, 2017.
  6. ↑ Colcol, Erwin (19 January 2017). "Jee Ick Joo's Househelp a Suspect in Kidnap-Slay". GMA News. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  7. ↑ De Jesus, Julliane Love (3 February 2017). "Bato: Rogue PNP, NBI Members Conspired to Kill Jee Ick-joo". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  8. ↑ Rosario, Ben R. (24 January 2017). "Alvarez Backtracks on Call for PNP Chief to Resign". Manila Bulletin. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  9. ↑ Placido, Dharel (26 January 2017). "Duterte apologizes for Korean's killing". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  10. ↑ De Jesus, Julliane Love (3 February 2017). "LOOK: Flowers Offered for Jee Ick-joo in Camp Crame". inquirer.net. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  11. ↑ del Callar, Michaela (19 January 2017). "DFA vows speedy resolution of Jee Ick Joo case". GMA News. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  12. ↑ Esguerra, Christian (26 January 2017). "South Korea Accepts Duterte Apology, Seeks Speedy Probe". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  13. ↑ Ganibe, Dexter (February 6, 2017). "South Korea accepts PH apology for Jee slay". ABS-CBNnews.com. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
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