Court issues hold departure order vs cop tagged in Korean businessman’s murder
MANILA, Philippines —The Angeles City, Pampanga Regional Trial Court has issued a hold departure order (HDO) against a former official of the defunct Philippine National Police’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) implicated in the killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.
The two-page order of RTC Branch 56 is for Police Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Dumlao III, who was recently allowed to post bail despite facing cases for kidnapping for ransom with homicide, kidnapping and serious illegal detention and car theft.
The Travel Control Bureau of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) have been specifically instructed by the court to hold the departure of Dumlao from the country to prevent a possible escape from criminal liabilities pending the final determination of the case.
The court mentioned only one specific airport in its order — Naia. Government prosecutors are asking clarification on the matter.
The prosecutors sought the issuance of the HDO after Dumlao was allowed to post bail.
READ: Court allows ‘brains’ of Jee Ick Joo killing to post bail
“Accused Dumlao is an active officer of the PNP and, as such, has the training on and has access to devices as a means of escape and evasion,” said the prosecutors in their motion.
“Convincingly, it also evinces that he has the means to travel and seek refuge in another country…he will clearly be a flight risk,” the motion stated.
As of posting time, Dumlao has yet to post a total of P900,000 bail or P300,000 bail for each offense. /ee
