Cop tagged in Jee case ‘safe’ in Crame jail

The police officer tagged as mastermind in the killing of a Korean businessman that led police to suspend its war on drugs is now being detained at the main police headquarters in Camp Crame, an arrangement that the head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said would ensure the detained officer’s safety.

Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, PNP chief, said Supt. Rafael Dumlao, charged with leading the operation to capture businessman Jee Ick-joo which led to the Korean’s killing inside Camp Crame, is better off being detained at the PNP Custodial Center in the PNP headquarters.

The Angeles City Regional Trial Court (RTC) had issued warrants for the arrest of Dumlao.

Keeping Dumlao detained in Camp Crame, Dela Rosa said, is “better to make sure that he is safe and he can face trial.”

“It would be hard if we don’t have a hold on him,” Dela Rosa said.

“His warrant is now out so he won’t be able to go home unless of course with the permission from the court,” he said.

The warrant for Dumlao’s arrest was served by the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) on Tuesday after it was issued by Angeles City Judge Ireneo Pangilinan.

Dumlao was charged at the Angeles City RTC with kidnapping, serious illegal detention and car theft.

The court denied bail for Dumlao for the kidnapping case and set a bail of P300,000 for the car theft case.

Supt. Glenn Dumlao, PNP AKG chief, said Rafael had been presented in court on Wednesday.

Rafael’s lawyers asked the court that he be allowed to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center, which the court granted.

Jee, the Korean businessman, had been abducted from his house in Angeles City in October by rogue police officers claiming to be on an antidrug mission.

The officers who took Jee demanded money from his wife in exchange for setting him free and purportedly letting him off the hook on an unspecified drug case.

Jee’s wife paid at least P5 million, which went for naught because Jee was eventually murdered.