PNP, NBI urged to probe deeply Jee's kidnap slay amid attempts to use issue vs. Duterte

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday urged the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation to probe deeply the abduction and alleged killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.

"Sana ay gampanan ng PNP at NBI ang malalim na pag-iimbestiga sa krimen na ito upang mapangalagaan ang katatagan ng republika," Aguirre said in his speech during the PNP flag raising ceremony.

He said the incident was being used by some people to destroy President Rodrigo Duterte through PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

"Sinisira ng ilan ang PNP.  May interes sila. Iniisip nila na kapag nasira si General Bato, masisira ang katatagan at pagtitiwala ng mamamayan sa Pangulo," he said.

He said Jee's case is an isolated one but it created controversy that now affects the PNP chief with some calling for the latter's resignation.

"Dahil dito may nanawagan ng kanyang pagbibitiw. Ako ay hindi nakikiisa sa panawagang ito. Alam natin na this is an isolated incident. Lahat ng pwedeng gawin ay ginagawa niya and nagkakaroon ng resulta," he said.

He said Dela Rosa cannot leave his job now as he is the symbol of the government's anti-illegal drugs campaign.

"Ang kampanya against drugs ang simbolo ay si Gen. Dela Rosa. Ang sinumang nakakaisip ng kampanya ng Pangulo, ang nakikita ay larawan ni Dela Rosa," he said.

"Kaya itong nangyari sa Korean national ay malalim ang dapat gawing imbestigasyon. May nagsasabi na ostensibly ang binibira ay chief PNP pero ang latay ay sa Pangulong Duterte," he said.

Duterte on Sunday said dela Rosa will stay as chief of the PNP despite calls for his resignation.

"He stays there. Bato has my complete trust," Duterte told GMA News in an interview before he attended the birthday celebration for Dela Rosa at the PNP's national headquarters in Camp Crame. —KG, GMA News