Filipino killer of Korean businessman nabbed as Lee hails arrest

Rafael Dumlao, the mastermind behind the kidnapping and killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, appears in court in May 2019. Captured image from Philippine media outlet Philstar

A dismissed high-ranking Philippine police officer convicted of orchestrating the 2016 killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo has been arrested in Manila after nearly two years on the run, authorities said Wednesday.

President Lee Jae Myung welcomed the arrest, vowing to seek justice for criminals targeting Korean citizens abroad and expressing gratitude to officials in both countries for their joint efforts.

Rafael Dumlao, who was a top official of an anti-drug unit within the Philippine National Police at the time of the killing, was apprehended at around 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday (local time), according to Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The mastermind behind Jee's killing had been in hiding since the Philippine Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that convicted him and sentenced him to at least 30 years in prison.

The case involved the abduction and killing of Jee inside the national police headquarters in 2016. With the direct involvement of several active-duty and former police officers, the case shocked both countries as it exposed serious corruption within law enforcement.

A lower court acquitted Dumlao in 2023, but an appellate court later overturned the ruling and convicted him, finding that the lower court had committed a “grave abuse of discretion,” according to local media reports. The Supreme Court subsequently upheld that verdict.

“Although it is long overdue, I am relieved that we can finally deliver the news that the perpetrator has been apprehended,” Lee said in a social media post. “This arrest was made possible thanks to the close collaboration between the Korean Embassy in the Philippines, the Korean Desk in the Philippines and Philippine police authorities. I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have worked for a long time to help resolve this case.”

He added that protecting the lives and safety of the people is the most fundamental duty of the state, and that the government will pursue criminals targeting Korean citizens to the very end and ensure they are held fully accountable.

During his state visit to the Philippines in March this year, Lee said he had asked Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to expedite efforts to apprehend those responsible for Jee's killing.

Lee added that Korea was also considering deploying its own resources to support the arrest operation.