THE Korean community criticized the tack police investigators have taken in pointing at Korean expatriates in the abduction and killing of South Korean executive Jee Ick Joo even without evidence.
Korean expatriate Lee Jinwoo, one of Jee’s neighbors in Angeles City, the Korean community in the Pampanga city were actually the ones who told investigators that the vehicle used in the abduction of Jee was registered under the name Jinky Santos Sta. Isabel, wife of one of the suspects.
“Hoon Yoo, In Sangmin and I regularly accompanied [Jee’s wife Choi Kyun Jin] as part of the Korean community and Methodist Church support group to help locate her husband at that time,” said Lee in an affidavit.
Lee said he found out about Jee’s kidnapping Oct. 18 when he was instructed by his mother to accompany Jee’s family while he was missing.
“The family was scared to sleep by themselves after Mr. Jee Ick Joo got kidnapped. Starting Oct. 20, I began staying at the house of the Jee family,” Lee said, adding that he also helped translate for Mrs. Jee when they went to the Angeles City police.
According to Lee, Mrs. Jee and the group decided to engage the services of private security experts to help find and locate Mr. Jee and their two vehicles.
“Since Mrs. Choi is a Korean national who is not fluent with either Filipino or English, and taking into account the fear and uncertainty, it was decided that she seek additional outside help aside from the assistance of the police,” he added.
On Oct. 21, Lee said he learned that the Jee family housekeeper was in a radio station in Manila and went on air.
“I was accompanied by Mr. In Sangmin [and] one of the policeman drove my car to Manila with four other policemen just to bring the housekeeper back to Angeles City,” said Lee.
He said they met Arturo Sta. Cruz, director for Administration of Motorcycle of the Philippines Federation, on Oct. 24 in Camp Crame and he agreed to help Mrs. Jee.
“Through him [Sta. Cruz] we found out that the vehicle used to abduct Mr. Jee was registered in the name of Jinky Santos Sta. Isabel, the spouse of one of the police investigators,” he said.
Sta. Cruz also confirmed that the Korean community and the Methodist Church have been helping Mrs. Jee.
“Mrs. Jee, accompanied by several members of the Korean Methodist Church, decided to engage my services as private security consultant in searching for her missing husband,” said Sta. Cruz in his affidavit.
Sta. Cruz said Oct. 20, Mrs. Jee sought his assistance to locate the two missing vehicles Toyota Innova (TXS 763) and Ford Explorer (ABT 1915).
“With my extensive network she readily agreed to engage my services, including operational expenses, to expedite the search efforts after their maid was released by the kidnappers somewhere in UP-Cubao area,” said Sta. Cruz in his affidavit.
Sta. Cruz said Mrs. Jee was “frantically trying to locate her husband, hoping to find him while still alive” and requested him to help in the investigation being conducted by the police.
They then proceeded to the Land Transportation Office and also met with motorcycle personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to sound an alarm and report any information on the two vehicles that may lead to the whereabouts of Jee.
Sta. Cruz said Mrs. Jee also promised to give a reward to anyone who can provide any lead or information to locate the vehicles and Jee, who was still missing then.
On Oct. 21, Sta. Cruz joined Mrs. Jee, Yoo Hoon, Lee Jinwoo, Pastor Kim and other members of her support group and gave them the vital informal he received regarding the Toyota Innova and Hi-Lux that the kidnappers used to abduct Jee.
Sta. Cruz said that on Oct. 26, he met again with Mrs. Jee and her support group where the latter was “distraught and very angry” that despite the information given no actions were taken by the PNP.
“That is my last meeting with Mrs. Jee. Suddenly, I found out that sometime in January 2017, Mr. Jee was killed,” Sta. Cruz said in his affidavit.
These sworn statement were already submitted to the Korean Embassy last Feb. 28, 2017.