Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — President Rodrigo Duterte offered a P1.0-million (20,000 US dollars) bounty on each of the three National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) assets allegedly involved in the kidnap-slay of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.
In a conference held shortly after midnight Monday, the President gave the NBI a 48-hour ultimatum to produce the three assets and offered a P1 million reward for each of these men tagged in Jee’s killing.
“I’ll just give them maybe 48 hours. And if they cannot be located and they surrendered to the NBI, it would be a dereliction of duty on the part of the officials of the NBI,” the President said.
“One million, tatlong assets ninyo [One million for each of your three assets]. If you don’t get it, it’s gonna be your neck,” he added.
Two assets still at large
Later on Monday, Duterte said the government has custody of one of the three men.
In his meeting Monday with Choi Kyung-jin, Jee’s wife, Duterte said only two of the NBI assets remain at large.
“There are only two remaining assets,” he said.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Monday there were four NBI assets allegedly involved in Jee’s killing.
Dela Rosa identified one of these men as “Jerry,” the driver of an official from NBI. Dela Rosa said “Jerry” has surrendered to the police but has denied working with the NBI.
Duterte threatens removal of NBI director
The President said at the early morning Monday press briefing that all of the suspects involved in the kidnap-slay have been accounted for, except for the NBI assets.
Duterte threatened to relieve NBI director Dante Gierran from his post if the assets are not produced by the deadline.
“Assets ninyo ‘yan, alam ninyo kung saan. The worst is kapag hindi mo makuha ‘yan, I might relieve you. Kasi kayo ang mag-asset-asset diyan tapos itong mga p***** i**, iyon ang magiging kriminal,” he said.
[Translation: They’re your assets, you know where they are. The worst is if you don’t capture them, I might relieve you. You guys have assets and then those are the ones who become criminals.]
Dumlao back in Police Custody
Duterte also offered a reward of P5 million for the capture of Supt. Rafael Dumlao if Dumlao did not return to the police within 24 hours.
The President said investigations had pointed to Dumlao as the mastermind behind Jee’s killing.
“If you do not come out soon, I will offer dead or alive ikaw, ikaw mismo Dumlao [you, you yourself, Dumlao], five million,” the President said.
A few minutes later during the press briefing, Dela Rosa informed the President that Dumlao was already in police custody.
“Mabuti Dumlao. Abugado ka pa naman. Sayang ma-byuda yang asawa mo pati ‘yung anak mo mawalan ng tatay,” Duterte said.
[Translation: Good, Dumlao. You’re a lawyer. It would be a pity for your wife to be a widow and your child to lose a father.]
Dumlao was earlier under restrictive custody at the Headquarters Support Service at Camp Crame. However, he had left police headquarters without permission from officials last Friday.
Dumlao was linked to Jee’s murder by SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, who police earlier identified as the primary suspect in Jee’s killing. He was a member of PNP’s Anti-illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG) and was Sta. Isabel’s team leader.
CNN Philippines’ Gerg Cahiles and Ina Andolong contributed to this report.
