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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gov't orders manhunt for Jee Ick-joo suspect as PH, South Korea tighten security ties

Gov't orders manhunt for Jee Ick-joo suspect as PH, South Korea tighten security ties

Published May 25, 2025 03:28 pm

At A Glance

  • The PAOCC said Bersamin's order to hasten Dumlao's arrest supports the Philippine National Police's efforts "to restore public trust and build capacity with international partners, particularly in resolving high-profile cases involving foreign nationals."
The Philippine government has ordered an intensified manhunt for former police officer Rafael Dumlao III, the prime suspect in the 2016 kidnapping and murder of South Korean national Jee Ick-joo, as part of broader efforts to rebuild trust and cooperation with Korean authorities amid rising crimes against foreign visitors.

Philippine and South Korean officials meet in Camp Crame for a coordination and international cooperation meeting to address organized crime and the threats to foreign nationals, including Korean nationals in the Philippines, on May 22. (PAOCC Photo)


In a statement posted on its Facebook page Sunday, May 25, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said the renewed directive came from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who chairs the commission. The order was issued ahead of the latest coordination meeting with Korean officials, who raised concerns over two recent violent incidents targeting Korean nationals.

The PAOCC said Bersamin’s order to hasten Dumlao’s arrest supports the Philippine National Police’s efforts "to restore public trust and build capacity with international partners, particularly in resolving high-profile cases involving foreign nationals."

Dumlao, a former anti-drug officer, was implicated in the abduction and killing of Jee Ick-joo inside Camp Crame in 2016. While he was previously detained, he later posted bail and was last seen in 2021.

The development was announced following a high-level inter-agency dialogue led by PAOCC Executive Director Gilberto Cruz on May 22. The meeting at Camp Crame brought together the PNP, the Korean Embassy, consular officials, and representatives from the Department of Tourism.

Cooperation with Korean officials

The dialogue focused on crafting a unified response to the "increasingly violent acts centered on South Korean nationals," especially in tourist-heavy areas such as Angeles City and Cebu.

Korean delegates cited two recent incidents: a robbery and attempted murder in Pampanga on May 7, and another case on April 21. In response, the PNP said suspects in the Pampanga case have already been arrested after being identified through CCTV footage. Authorities confirmed the suspects were also linked to other robbery incidents in the area.

PLTGEN Jose Melecio Nartaez Jr., PNP deputy chief for administration, reiterated the police force’s “continuous commitment” to pursuing all leads and holding perpetrators accountable, citing close coordination among agencies as key to success.

"This emphasized that the success of every case greatly relies on the continual close coordination of all law enforcement and government agencies, whether at the local or national levels," the PAOCC said.

New security measures

To better protect foreign nationals, particularly Koreans, the government will reinforce its Tourist Security Desk network, install multilingual safety signs at airports and terminals, and expand training for police officers, barangay tanods, and tourist-oriented patrol units.

The PAOCC said the initiatives aim to “prevent future occurrences” and strengthen police visibility in tourist areas.

“Information and intelligence sharing are vital enablers for operational effectiveness,” it said.

The agencies also discussed the implementation of intelligence-led CCTV deployments, focusing on crime-prone locations based on previous incidents.

Related Tags

PH-South Korea PAOCC Lucas Bersamin
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