Court allows ‘brains’ of Jee Ick Joo killing to post bail

Jee Ick-joo. INQUIRER FILE

MANILA, Philippines — The Angeles City Regional Court has allowed the alleged mastermind in the killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo to post bail.

The court granted the prayer of Police Lieutenant Colonel (formerly Superintendent) Rafael Dumlao to post bail for his temporary liberty.

“After considering the evidence of the prosecution, the Court holds that its evidence failed to prove that the evidence of guilt of accused P/Supt. Rafael Dumlao III is strong,” read the court’s ruling.

Dumlao has been identified by the witness, Police Executive Master Sergeant (formerly SPO4) Roy Villegas, as the “sir Dumlao” who talked on the phone with accused Police Chief Master Sergeant (formerly SPO3) Ricky Sta. Isabel before Jee was strangled to death.

The Court said Dumlao was mentioned only in the testimonies of Villegas and Police Corporal Christopher Baldovino.

According to Baldovino, Dumlao allegedly called Sta. Isabel and inquired about the supposed surveillance operation. Villegas, on the other hand, said he was instructed by Dumlao to accompany Villegas in the supposed “operation.” He added that saw Dumlao talking to Sta.

Isabel and Omlang in Camp Crame and asked Jee if he knew of a certain “Albert.”

The Court said the conversation did not indicate a conspiracy to kill Jee.

On Baldovino’s testimony, the Court said: “such act of monitoring, however, is a normal occurrence during police operations; thus, the Court does not consider it proof that accused Dumlao planned and agreed to the abduction and eventual killing of victim Ick Joo.”

On Villegas testimony, the Court said: “since Villegas was not privy to the conversation and no other witness was presented to prove the tenor of the conversation, the Court cannot consider the said circumstance or actuation as proof that accused Dumlao conspired with his co-accused.”

The Court also noted that another part of Villegas’ testimony that casts doubt on the complicity of Dumlao was when Sta. Isabel angrily told him that he will already call the shots, which was followed by the killing of Jee.

The Court clarified that its ruling on the bail petition is without prejudice to its later determination of guilt since more evidence will still be presented on the trial on the merits of the case.

The same ruling denied the bail plea of Sta. Isabel and Omlang.

Sta. Isabel, Jerry Omlang, and Dumlao are charged with kidnapping for ransom and homicide, kidnapping and serious illegal detention and car theft while Gerardo “Ding” Santiago, the owner of the Gream Funeral Services in Caloocan City where the body of the South Korean businessman was brought, was charged as an accessory to the crime.

Omlang is an errand boy at the NBI who surrendered and confessed to his participation in the crime.

Villegas was included in the case but was dropped from the charge sheet to become a state witness. /cbb