Jee Ick Joo killed to instill fear among Korean businessmen – AKG chief Glenn Dumlao

Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo was killed to instill fear among Korean traders, Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group director Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao said Monday.

In an interview, Dumlao said Jee was allegedly a victim of the mafia-style of the group of SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel.

“Ang mafia-style kasi is to instill fear. Kahit sino naman, kahit na locally-organized crime group, they are employing mafia-style, na patayin mo ‘yung isa to instill fear para tuloy-tuloy yung extortion racket mo,” he told reporters.

He reiterated that a Korean mafia was not involved in Jee’s case but a syndicate composed of Filipinos.

“Sindikato na Filipino, ‘yan nga sina Sta. Isabel ... ‘yung grupo nila,” he said.

This is despite the fact that a Korean served as a “go-between” between the kidnappers and Jee’s widow Choi Kyung-jin. 

The AKG chief added the real motive in the killing of Jee is murder and not ransom.

“Ang motive talaga doon is murder. Afterthought na lang (ang kidnapping for ransom) kasi bigla silang humingi ng pera,” he said.

“The mere fact the nanghingi sila ng pera it falls sa mandate namin na kidnap for ransom pero sa investigation namin, lumalabas na ang talagang motive nila is to kill the person,” he said.

He said Jee was killed to give a lesson to other Korean businessmen who refuse to give in to the demands of the syndicate.

“Kasi nga si Jee is a straight person, ayaw niya sa mga extortion na ganyan so inaayawan niya. Dahil ayaw niya sa extortion, pati ‘yung ibang legitimate Korean at Chinese businessmen ayaw na ring magbayad doon sa mga nage-extort,” he said.

Jee, a former Hanjin executive, was the owner of a manpower services company when the incident happened.

“Sinasabi nating mafia-style dahil you kill that person para lalong mag instill ng fear, ng takot doon sa iba para magbigay sila,” Dumlao said.

He said cremating the remains of the victim, such as in Jee’s case, is a sign that the syndicate has systematic operation to remove any trace of the crime they committed.

“It shows na talagang (systematic) dahil (ang cremation) ang pinakamadaling gagawin nila,” he said.

Dumlao said they have also sought an audit on the missing Koreans and Chinese in the country to determine if they suffered the same fate as slain Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.

“Pinapa-audit namin ang mga missing persons lalo na yung Koreans at Chinese kasi they might have fallen sa mga kamay ng mga grupo na ito,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News