MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice dismissed the petition for review filed by the owner of the Caloocan City funeral parlor where South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo’s body was taken and cremated after he was killed by his police abductors.
The DOJ found the petition filed on July 5 by Gerardo Santiago, owner of Gream Funeral Services, defective on the following grounds:
- “The petition was filed out of time or beyond 15 days reglamentary period. Respondent-appellant stated that he received a copy of the resolution denying the motion for reconsideration on June 20, 201. It appears, however that he filed the petition by personal service with the Department on July 5, 2017;
- “The DOJ also said that no duplicate original or certified true copies of the assailed joint resolutions dated April6 and May 29, 2017;
- “No proof of service of copy of the petition to the Prosecutor General; and
- “No copies of the complaint affidavit, counter-affidavits and other evidence submitted by the parties during the preliminary investigation.”
“The right to appeal is neither a natural right and it is not part of due process. It is merely a statutory privilege, and may be exercised only in accordance with the law. The party who seeks to avail of the same must comply with the requirements of the rules. Failing to do so, the right to appeal is lost,” the July 24 resolution signed by Undersecretary Raymund L. Mecate said.
Aside from Santiago, the others accused of the kidnapping and death of Jee are Superintendent Rafael Dumlao, chief of the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group in Pampanga, Senior Police Office 3 Ricky Sta. Isabel and SPO4 Roy Villegas, and Jerry Omlang.
Dumlao, Sta. Isabel , Villegas and Omlang are also facing kidnapping and serious illegal detention and carnapping cases before Angeles City, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 58 Presiding Judge Irineo Pangilinan Jr. for the abduction of Marisa Dawis Morquicho, Jee’s househelp, who was seized with the businessman from his home in Pampanga October 18 last year.
The kidnappers also took Jee’s black Ford Expedition.
Later that day, Jee was taken to Camp Crame where Sta. Isabel allegedly strangled him to death.
All the accused have been arraigned and pleaded not guilty.