Court orders transfer of Jee Ick Joo suspects to Angeles jail

MANILA, Philippines — The Angeles City court has ordered the transfer of the accused in the kidnap-slay case of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo from government detention centers to an Angeles City jail.

Judge Iron Zenaida Buan of Angeles City, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 56 granted the state prosecution’s motion to transfer Police Superintendent Rafael Dumlao III, SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel and "runner" Jerry Omlang would be sent to a detention facility under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Omlang is detained at the National Bureau Investigation compound in Manila, while Dumlao and Sta. Isabel are held at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Quezon City.

The court said that considering the distance from where the accused are detained and the trial court, it would be “practical” for them to be held at the Angeles City jail.

The court also dismissed the suspects’ claim that their detention in a regular jail “will pose a threat to their safety, security and life” as it lacks sufficient basis.

State prosecutors, in their motion, stressed that the Supreme Court, through the Office of the Court Administrator, issued a directive to local courts to “refrain from issuing orders committing detainees at the PNP Custodial Center.”

Buan, in her order, cited the said OCA circular and said that the court is duty bound to comply with it.

They added that since the accused are already facing charges before a local court, they should be treated like all other detainees.

“They should not be given special privileges or treatment distinct from all other detainees,” the prosecutors added.

According to the resolution issued by the Justice department, Jee was killed by policemen inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. The Korean businessman was kidnapped from his residence in Angeles City under the guise of an anti-drug operation.