(Eagle News) – The three policemen who were with SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, accused in the abduction and killing of a Korean businessman last year, are now under police restrictive custody in Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Among them are two police non-commissioned officers and Sta. Isabel’s team leader, Police Supt., Rafael Dumlao, who also gave the recommendation for Sta. Isabel to be able to enter the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drug Group.
Police Senior Supt Albert Ignatius Ferro, director of the PNP Anti-Illegal Operations Drug Group (PNP-AIDG) said the policemen will be undergoing pre-charge investigation.
“If found guilty they will be discharged and administratively charged. And if they are further found to be involved in criminal (acts) they will be prosecuted by the court,” Ferro said.
These policemen, who were with SPO3 Isabel, will also be investigated by the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group.
According to the police’s initial investigation, Isabel’s fellow cops insisted they were made to believe that their operations against the Korean Jee Ick Joo were legitimate.
Ferro, the head of the PNP-AIDG, also expressed suspicion about the activities of Isabel. He said the suspect-cop conducted his illegal operations while Ferro was in Abu Dhabi to fetch Kerwin Espinosa, and the other cops
were preparing to go to China for further training.
Ferro also said that Isabel might have a powerful backer.
He said that two lawyers have already approached him to try to stop the restrictive custody process.
“Saan ka nakakita ng pulis na dalawa ang abugado ang pupunta sa akin dahil pinapa-restrictive custody natin sya e.
Abugado ang humarang. Meaning to say he might be well funded, and we might be into a situation na may mga nagpo-pondo dyan lalo na yung mga kalaban natin sa droga,” Ferro noted.
Police are still looking for Isabel’s other companions, including another Korean national who helped the police suspects to get Jee Ick Joo. (based on report of Eagle News Service’s Mar Gabriel)