Other police suspects point to SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel as the one who strangled and killed a Korean businessman.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The wife of a cop accused in the kidnapping and killing of a Korean businessman says her husband is innocent of all accusations.
In a press conference yesterday, Jinky, the wife of SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, presented evidence which she believes will prove her husband’s innocence in the kidnapping of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo.
She said, “Biktima lang po yung asawa ko dito. Hindi niya po magagawang mangidnap, hindi niya po magawang pumatay. Kahit na po itrace niyo yung kanyang record sa buong PNP, kahit kayo po mismo magtrace, wala po siyang ganoon dahil may takot po siya sa Diyos.”
[Translation: My husband is a victim. He is incapable of kidnapping, and he is not capable of killing anyone. Even if you trace his records from the PNP – even if you trace it yourseles – he is incapable of doing that because he has fear of the Lord.]
Read: SPO3 Sta. Isabel arrested, detained at Camp Crame
In a press conference, Ricky’s wife, Jinky, allowed media to listen to portions of an audio recording of her alleged phone conversation with Atty. Rafael Dumlao when he called on January 14.
That conversation she recorded revealed what she claims was a planned cover-up operation to disprove the participation of Dumlao and others in Jee’s killing.
Dumlao was Ricky’s boss and also one of the team leaders in the anti-illegal drugs group of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Jinky narrates that Dumlao admitted her husband was never involved in kidnapping.
She says Dumlao pleaded with her to convince Ricky to join as a lookout in their planned cover up operation.
Jinky adds PNP Anti-kidnapping Group head Glenn Dumlao and a certain Macapagal and Yalung were also trying to convince Ricky.
In the cover-up operation, Jinky said Dumlao and company were to execute the policemen who witnessed Dumlao torturing the Korean national last October 18.
She said they would make it appear those policemen were the real kidnappers and were “killed” in an operation.
She said, “Kaya gusto nilang isenaryo o papatayin yung mga pulis na yun para lang daw isalba nila si Ricky… Parang tinatakpan nila yung ginawa nila. Tinakpan ni Col. Rafael Dumlao yung ginawa niya sa pagpatay sa isang Koreano.”
[Translation: They want to make it appear that or they would kill those policemen so they could save Ricky… It would be like covering up what they did. Col Rafael Dumlao covered up his killing of the Korean.]
If this happens, Jinky says Dumlao told her PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa promised to remove the manhunt order against Sta. Isabel.
Jinky also presented CCTV footage showing Dumlao was in their house several times to convince Ricky to take part in the cover-up operation.
Ricky, however, refused to join the cover up operation since it was against his conscience. Rafael Dumlao is currently under their restrictive custody.
To prove Ricky’s innocence, Jinky insists Ricky was in Manila when Jee was kidnapped in Angeles City, Pampanga.
It was Ricky, Jinky also admits, who brought Jee’s remains to a crematorium in Caloocan City.
But Glenn Dumlao earlier said it was Ricky who brought Jee from Angeles to Camp Crame, where he supervised the businessman’s torture.
The PNP Chief, however, is wondering why Jinky implicated Glenn Dumlao.
Read: PNP Chief Dela Rosa won’t resign over Korean kidnap-slay
He said, “Yan man ang Director ng Anti-kidnapping Group na kakaassume lang nitong Disyembre na nangyari yung kidnapping nila eh, October eh hindi pa panahon ni Glenn Dumlao yan.”
[Translation: The Director of the Anti-kidnapping Group assumed his post in December. The kidnapping happened in October, that was before Glenn Dumlao’s time.]
At the end of the day, Jinky claims Dumlao is just using Ricky as his fall guy to clear his name.
The preliminary investigation into the case is expected to happen this week.
In the meantime, Jinky and her family are in fear of their lives.
