THE South Korean government has asked President Rodrigo Duterte to “deliver swift justice” to the family of slain Hanjin executive Jee Ick Joo and to resolve the other cases filed by Korean nationals against scalawag cops, chief presidential counsel Salvador Panelo said Monday.
He made his statement even as Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation were jointly looking into the possible involvement of an alleged Korean mafia in Jee’s kidnapping and killing.
“Every angle and theory will be covered by the joint investigation. The investigation will continue,” Aguirre told reporters.
NBI Director Dante Gierran and PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa met last week at the office of Senator Panfilo Lacson and agreed to conduct a joint investigation to solve Jee’s case.
Panelo, whom Duterte had tasked to fly to Seoul, met with Prime Minister and acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn on Feb. 3 and he accepted the Philippine government’s apology over the case.
“[The prime minister] asked me to convey to President Rodrigo Duterte that swift justice must be given to the widow … and he hoped also that it will not occur again,” Panelo told reporters.
“The prime minister also told me there had been pending cases filed by Korean nationals to offenders and he hoped that will proceed smoothly and that justice will be served.
“Prime Minister Hwang thanked me for conveying the message of apology by the Philippine Government and said he will share President Duterte’s words of comfort to the Korean people. Prime Minister Hwang also requested I extend his gratitude and appreciation to President Duterte.”
Panelo said he assured Hwang that the Philippine government would resolve all cases involving the “molestation, harassment, kidnapping and assaulting of Koreans in our country as part of the government’s war against all forms of criminality and the illegal drug trade.”
“In response, Prime Minister Hwang accepted my offer of apology on behalf of the Philippine government, and noted that President Duterte apologized as well to the widow of Mr. Jee Ick Joo. With PNA