Was the abduction of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo last October and his killing right inside Camp Crame an isolated case, or was the trader just one of several victims?
Sen. Panfilo Lacson wants to know as he noted the actions of the group behind the crime, which included SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, appeared “mechanical.”
Lacson also said he may schedule the first hearing on the so-called tokhang-for-ransom cases this Thursday at the Senate. He had filed a resolution asking that his committee on public order and dangerous drugs conduct a probe into the incidents.
“If I would expand yung kaisipan natin sa pagimbestiga, ito ba ang unang-unang insidente na kinasasanguktan ng grupo ni Sta. Isabel? Kasi mukhang mechanical na ang ginawa nila,” Lacson said in an interview on DZBB radio.
He was referring to the group’s modus operandi that may involve abducting a victim on the pretext of conducting an anti-drug operation, killing the victim, then demanding ransom from the victim’s relatives.
“Lahat parang it happened na parang meron na silang pattern, meron nang sinusunod na modus operandi dadalhin sa Crame, kasama ang maid, ipapakita mong talagang pinasok sa Crame para totoong may kaso. Pero ang paghingi ng ransom in spite ng pagpatay na hingi ng ransom, kasama sa overall plan, na papatayin nila pero hihingan ng ransom,” he said.
“Ang tanong, nariyan pa ba sila nasa labas? Baka gawin noon mag-lie low muna, pagkatapos medyo tumahimik ang kaso ng Koreano, mag-strike na muli. At sino na naman kaya ang tatamaan na susunod,” he added.
He said those who may be invited as resource persons at this week’s hearing may include anti-crime crusader Teresita Ang-See and the police team that abducted a friend of Lacson in Central Luzon last August.
Also, he said Sta. Isabel may be invited to the hearing, though the Senate committee may also visit him at his detention facility if needed.
But Lacson said Sta. Isabel’s wife, who reportedly expressed willingness to testify at the Senate, does not loom as a possible resource person.
“Ano ite-testify niya? Di hearsay rin yan. Kesa patawag siya si Sta Isabel tanungin. May personal ba siyang kaalaman sa ginagawa o di ginagawa ng asawa niya? Di naman pwede yung basta nagprisinta e tatanggapin naman namin doon,” he said.
