Cop accused in Jee Ick Joo kidnap-slay now a state witness

MANILA, Philippines — A cop accused in the kidnap-slay case of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo has been admitted as a state witness.

In a 10-page order, the Angeles City, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 58 granted the Department of Justice's motion to discharge SPO4 Leviste "Roy" Villegas who was originally included in the case.

According to the order penned by Judge Irineo Pineda Pangilinan Jr., Villegas asked the DOJ to be allowed "to testify for the State to prove the details of the commission of the crimes charged as well as the conspiracy attendant in its commission."

Villegas also asked that his family be admitted to the DOJ's Witness Protection Program.

In granting the DOJ's motion, the local court deemed that Villegas' testimony is an "absolute necessity" to establish the direct participation of main suspect Superintendent Rafael Dumlao III in the crime.

Dumlao is believed to be the mastermind of the kidnap-slay of the Korean businessman who was strangled to death in the police headquarters in Quezon City.

The Court noted that Villegas "had no direct participation in the actual killing of victim Jee Ick Joo." It also agreed with the DOJ's argument that the testimony of Jee's maid, Marisa Moriquicho, was "very limited as it is only confined to the alleged carnapping, kidnapping of victims [Jee and Moriquicho], but not the actual killing of [Jee]."

"She cannot, therefore, identify who among the accused consummated the killing of the victim [Jee] or who conspired with whom," the order read.

The Court also said that following  jurisprudence, a state witness "does not need to be found to be the least guilty; he or she should not only 'appear to be the most guilty.'"

"Most guilty," according to the Court, "refers to the highest degree of culpability in terms of participation in the commission of the offense and does not necessarily mean the severity of the penalty imposed."

It also stressed: "Nothing in the records show that accused Villegas has been convicted of any offense which has attained finality. Nor is there any evidence that the conviction pertains to any offense involving moral turpitude."

Jee was kidnapped from his residence in Angeles City on August 18. Armed men allegedly barged in the house  and abducted him and his househelp, Moriquicho. It was learned that the operation was conducted under the "Oplan Tokhang."

He was later brought to Camp Crame where he was strangled to death. His cremated remains were later reportedly flushed down the toilet.

Others who are facing kidnapping for ransom with homicide charges are SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, retired cop Gerardo "Ding" Santiago and NBI errand boy Gerry Omlang.