THE DEPARTMENT of Justice again asked a judge of the Angeles City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to inhibit from the proceedings in the case of the slain Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo. In the second motion for inhibition, the prosecution noted that Judge Irin Zenaida S. Buan of RTC Branch 56 resolved their first motion for inhibition after two months since the filing, which indicates her partiality toward the accused, Police Lieutenant Colonel Rafael P. Dumlao III. Mr. Dumlao is the alleged mastermind of the killing. “Her subsequent actions and late orders indicate clear badges of partiality and bias in favor of accused Dumlao. The People and the private complainant have undoubtedly and irretrievably lost their trust and confidence that the Presiding Judge will hear the cases with utmost fairness, impartiality and probity,” the motion read. It also cited that the April 24 order of the judge allowing the posting of bail of Mr. Dumlao “casts serious doubt on her fairness and impartiality to continue hearing these cases.” Mr. Jee and his housekeeper Marisa Morquicho were abducted from his residence in Angeles City during an alleged anti-drug operation on October 18, 2016. Ms. Morquicho was later released but Mr. Jee was killed in the headquarters of the Philippine National Police and his cremated remains were reportedly flushed in a toilet. Mr. Dumlao, along with Police Chief Master Sergeant Ricky M. Sta. Isabel and Jerry A. Omlang, are facing charges of kidnapping for ransom with homicide, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, and carnapping in connection with the slay of Mr. Jee. The court on April 24 allowed Mr. Dumlao to post bail of P300,000 for each of the charges but denied the same petitions of the others accused. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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