Cops in Korean’s slay to be transferred to PNP custody—Aguirre

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Friday said the police identified as the one who strangled South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo will be transferred to the Philippine National Police (PNP) custody after the Pampanga court ordered his arrest.

The order of arrest was issued by the Angeles City Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 58 Judge Irineo Pangilinan Jr. against Senior Police Officer 3 (SP03) Ricky Sta. Isabel, SP04 Roy Villegas, Ramon Yalung and four people identified only under the aliases “Pulis,” “Jerry,” “Sir Dumlao” and “Ding.”

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They are facing a case of kidnapping for ransom with homicide.

Aguirre said the PNP would take custody of Sta. Isabel and Villegas. The police will then submit a return of the warrant to the court to inform it that they have taken custody of the accused.

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The justice chief said Sta. Isabel through counsel from the Public Attorneys Office (PAO) insisted that he stay at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Sta. Isabel is currently under the NBI’s protective custody. He sought protective custody due to alleged threats on his life.

He was identified by his co-accused Villegas as the one who strangled the victim.

Aguirre said the accused could still ask for a reinvestigation so that they can still submit a response to the allegations raised against him.

“If there is a reinvestigation, then the trial could be suspended for the meantime. There could be reinvestigation for as long as the guilt of the accused is not yet proven,” Aguirre told reporters. RAM/rga