Court orders release of Jee Ick-joo kidnap-slay witness

MANILA, Philippines — A court in Pampanga has ordered the release of a state witness in the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo.

In a two-page order promulgated on Jan. 30 and released yesterday, Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 56 Judge Irin Zenaida Buan granted the motion of Senior Police Officer 4 Roy Villegas to be released from the custody of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group.

“After considering the respective arguments of the parties... (and) based on the proceedings held in these cases, it appears that... Villegas... finished his testimony... It can be concluded that he fulfilled his duty as a state witness,” the ruling read.

Senior Police Officer 2 Ricky Sta. Isabel and Jerry Umlang, who were tagged in the kidnapping and killing of Jee, opposed the motion of Villegas, citing the petition they filed before the Court of Appeals (CA).

However, the court said the pendency of the CA petition would “not interrupt the course of the main case unless a temporary restraining order or writ of preliminary injunction is issued by the appellate court.”

Superintendent Rafael Dumlao III, the principal accused, Sta. Isabel and Umlang are detained at the Angeles City jail.

Gerardo Santiago, owner of Gream Funeral Services where the body of the victim was brought, was indicted as an accessory to the crime. 

Jee was kidnapped on Oct. 18, 2016 and killed at Camp Crame. He was reportedly cremated and his ashes were flushed in the toilet.