NBI ordered to probe involvement of Korean mafia in Jee slay

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a probe into the possible involvement of a Korean mafia in the death of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo.

Aguirre issued the order after meeting with South Korean Ambassador Kim Jae Shin. The meeting took place a day after the Korean Embassy denounced Aguirre’s claim that some people from the embassy have been compromised by the Korean crime gang.

The embassy dared Aguirre to provide evidence to prove his claim.

In a statement, Aguirre said he has already cleared the air with South Korean embassy officials.

“After I relayed some confidential information to him, Ambassador Kim gave the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) the go signal to investigate any involvement of the Korean mafia, if any, in the abduction and in the killing of the Korean national,  Mr. Jee Ick-joo,” Aguirre said.

“I explained to them that as the Secretary of Justice, it is my responsibility to bring justice to the victims and to bring to courts the criminals. Consequently, I take such responsibility seriously and tell the agencies under me, in this case the NBI, to explore all angles and possible leads,” he added.

The DOJ is currently conducting a reinvestigation on the kidnapping for ransom with homicide it earlier filed against policemen tagged in Jee’s abduction, namely, Senior Police Officer 2 Ricky Sta. Isabel, Senior Police Officer 4 Roy Villegas and Ramon Yalung as respondents along with four others with aliases “Sir Dumlao, Jerry, Ding and Pulis.”

Superintendent Rafael Dumlao, official of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG), and three NBI officials – former NBI deputy director for investigation services Jose Yap; former National Capital Region (NCR) director Ricardo Diaz and former Task Force against Illegal Drugs head Roel Bolivar – have also been named new respondents in the complaint.