Aguirre directs NBI to secure wife of principal accused in Korean’s slay

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has directed the National Bureau of Investigation to provide security to the wife of SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, the principal accused in the abduction and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo inside Camp Crame.

Aguirre said Sta. Isabel’s wife, Jinky, had received death threats after coming out in public that her husband was being set up as a fall guy by his colleagues at the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group.

“These are very serious threats. What I did was to ask Jinky if she wanted protection. I have already asked the NBI to study how to provide them protection,” Aguirre said.

The investigation of Jee’s abduction by a police team in Angeles City last October has become complicated, with Aguirre expecting that the NBI and the PNP investigators were headed toward a collision course.

Based on the PNP’s initial inquiry, SPO4 Roy Villegas claimed in an affidavit that
Sta. Isabel led the team that kidnapped Jee and that Sta. Isabel himself strangled Jee inside Camp Crame on the same day the businessman was abducted.

But Aguirre said Sta. Isabel and his wife were firm in denying the allegations. He said this was the reason Sta. Isabel had sought protection from the NBI before the court ordered his arrest and his transfer to the PNP.

Aguirre said Jinky told him that Sta. Isabel was in a meeting with Police Supt. Raphael Dumlao, acting chief of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, on Oct. 18 when Jee was abducted. Aguirre said Dumlao even asked Sta. Isabel to accompany the former’s child in going to a bookstore with receipt of the item they purchased.

Sta. Isabel’s claim that he was being framed deserved further scrutiny, Aguirre said, adding that Dumlao should likewise be investigated.

Aguirre said it was possible that other higher ranking police officials were involved in the murder.