Judge handling Jee Ick Joo kidnap-slay recuses self from case

MANILA, Philippines — The Angeles City judge handling the case of the kidnap-slay of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo has taken his hands off the case filed against several policemen.

Judge Irineo Panganiban Jr. of Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 58 has “voluntarily inhibited” from kidnapping for ransom with homicide case filed against several policemen.

Accused Superintendent Rafael Dumlao III has asked Pangiban to inhibit from the case, stating that the judge was accused of pre-judging a motion for reconsideration against the admission of co-accused Roy Villegas as state witness.

Villegas is believed to be one of the men who brought Jee’s remains to a funeral parlor in Caloocan. He is currently a state witness to the case.

READ: Cop accused in Jee Ick Joo kidnap-slay now a state witness

Dumlao is said to be the brains behind the abduction of the Korean businessman.

“To the mind of accused Dumlao, he could no longer expect a fair judgment from the court,” the 10-page order read.

The court junked the motion for inhibition for lack of merit. The order stated: “[B]are allegations and mere suspicions of partiality are not enough in the absence of evidence to overcome the presumption that a member of the Court will undertake his noble role to dispense justice according to law and evidence without fear or favour.”

Panganiban, however, decided to recuse himself from the case “in order to remove any doubt in any and all official acts that will be rendered by the Court.”

Jee was kidnapped from his residence in Angeles City on August 18. Armed men allegedly barged in the house  and abducted him and his househelp, Moriquicho. It was learned that the operation was conducted under the "Oplan Tokhang."

He was later brought to Camp Crame where he was strangled to death. His cremated remains were later reportedly flushed down the toilet.