By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Authorities on Tuesday arrested former police officer Rafael Dumlao III, one of the alleged masterminds in the 2016 kidnapping and killing of businessman Jee lock-Jo, in a major breakthrough in a case that has drawn national attention for nearly a decade.
The arrest was announced by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who said Dumlao was apprehended at around 5 p.m. in Pasong Tampo,Makati City by law enforcement operatives serving a warrant for his arrest.
Dumlao, a former police lieutenant colonel, had been listed among the country’s wanted persons and carried a ₱1-million bounty for information leading to his capture.
The former police official was implicated in the abduction and subsequent killing ofJoo, a businessman whose death shocked the public and triggered years of legal proceedings.
Court records show that Dumlao was initially convicted by the Angeles City Regional Trial Court in connection with the kidnapping and murder case. However, the legal battle continued through the appellate courts, eventually resulting in the issuance of an arrest warrant against him in 2025.
Authorities described the arrest as a significant development in the government’s continuing efforts to hold all individuals accountable for the high-profile crime.
Officials have yet to release complete details regarding the operation and the next legal steps following Dumlao’s arrest. A press conference by the DILG was ongoing as of posting time.
The Jee lck Joo kidnap-slay case remains one of the most closely watched criminal cases in recent years, with law enforcement agencies maintaining efforts to ensure that all those involved are brought before the courts.
The arrest of Dumlao marks another milestone in the long-running pursuit of justice for the family of Jee Lck Joo and underscores the government’s commitment to tracking down fugitives, regardless of rank or former position in public service.
ia/xf
