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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Fugitive ex-PNP officer--now long-haired--nabbed in QC over Jee Ick Joo kidnap-slay case

Fugitive ex-PNP officer--now long-haired--nabbed in QC over Jee Ick Joo kidnap-slay case

Published Jun 9, 2026 10:36 am
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla shows the photos of fugitive police officer Rafael Dumlao, who is wanted for the kidnap-slay of South Korean executive Jee Ick Joo, after his arrest in Quezon City on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in Quezon City. With him during a press briefing at Camp Crame are CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico and PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla shows the photos of fugitive police officer Rafael Dumlao, who is wanted for the kidnap-slay of South Korean executive Jee Ick Joo, after his arrest in Quezon City on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in Quezon City. With him during a press briefing at Camp Crame are CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico and PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr.
Getting a haircut is difficult for fugitive men but it did not deter operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) from confirming the identity of dismissed police official Rafael Dumlao—a wanted man tagged in the brutal kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.
And at around 5 a.m. on Tuersday, June 9, police swooped down on his hiding place in Barangay Pasong Tamo in Quezon City and resulted in his arrest after months of playing hide-and-seek with policemen.
“This morning operation is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to enforce the law and implement court decisions,” said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
“This sends a strong message that no one is above the law regardless of rank, position or former authority,” he stressed during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
During his arrest, Remulla took note of the hairdo of Dumlao, which is way different when he was still in the police force.
“It’s not a disguise,” said Remulla when asked if Dumlao was wearing a wig at the time of his arrest.
“When you are hiding, it is really difficult to have a haircut so that’s how he looks like now,” he added, pointing to the photo presented in a press briefing.
Who is Dumlao?
The case of Dumlao was deemed as proof of how the drug war was weaponized for illegal money-making activities of erring cops.
In 2016, Dumlao was a ranking official of the defunct Anti-Illegal Drugs Group of the Philippine National Police and he was tagged as a key player in the kidnapping of Jee in Angeles City in Pampanga.
Jee was arrested under the guise of anti-illegal drugs operations and records revealed that the intention was really for kidnap-for-ransom purpose.
Jee was taken to Camp Crame in Quezon City and was strangled to death at the parking lot on front of the National Headquarters where then PNP chief Ronald Dela Rosa was holding office.
The incident prompted Dela Rosa to dissolve the AIDG and was replaced by the current PNP-Drug Enforcement Group.
Aside from Dumlao, at least two other policemen were arrested and charged over the incident.
The brutality
After he was strangled to death, Jee was cremated and his ashes were flushed in a toilet bowl.
There were reports that despite killing Jee, the group of Dumalo still demanded ransom money from the family of the South Korean executive.
Legal battles
Dumlao was acquitted by a local court from the kidnapping and murder charges leveled against him in 2023.
The case was elevated to the Court of Appeals which reversed the local court’s decision in 2024. The Court of Appeals sent him to reclusion perpetua.
The camp of Dumlao appealed the case to the Supreme Court, which in turn, affirmed the CA ruling and junked all the petitions and legal remedies in June 2025.
Cracking his location
The CIDG got a good lead after the wedding of Dumlao’s daughter last week.
While he did not attend, police noticed that he was watching the live-streaming of the wedding.
It became the lead in locating his position and eventually his arrest.
Remulla said Dumlao was alone in the house and appeared to have been staying in the area for a long time now.
He said investigation is being conducted to identify all those who assisted him, including the owner of the house, the registered owner of the gun seized from him, and the people he usually contacted at the span of his hiding.
Remulla said the laptop and the cellphone seized from him will be subjected to forensics examination.

Related Tags

PNP drug war Jonvic Remulla Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. CIDG Jee Ick Joo
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