President Lee Thanks Philippine Authorities for Arrest of Former Police Officer Who Killed Korean National

Main Perpetrator in 2016 Kidnapping and Murder of Ji Ikjoo Arrested
President Lee Urged Protection of Overseas Koreans During March Visit to the Philippines

President Lee Jaemyung on June 9 thanked the police, the National Intelligence Service, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their efforts regarding the arrest of a former local police officer in the Philippines who killed a Korean national.

Yonhap News

On this day, President Lee posted on his social media account, X, stating, "I also express my gratitude to the Philippine authorities for their efforts," and added, "After months of pursuit, we have finally arrested the former local police officer who killed our citizen."

The individual mentioned by President Lee is reported to be Rafael Dumlao III, a former Philippine police officer identified as the main perpetrator in the 2016 kidnapping and murder case of Korean businessman Ji Ikjoo in the Philippines. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other sources, Dumlao was apprehended by the Philippine police in Manila at approximately 5:15 a.m. local time on this day.

At the time, Dumlao was serving as the head of the Philippine National Police Anti-Drug Unit. He is accused of kidnapping and murdering Mr. Ji, who was residing in Angeles, Philippines, together with accomplices. In 2024, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in his second trial but escaped before the sentence was executed, and his whereabouts had been unknown since then.

The government has been working with the Philippine authorities to secure Dumlao's custody. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, the police Korean Desk, the National Intelligence Service, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have reportedly continued their cooperation with local authorities in tracing and apprehending him.

During his state visit to the Philippines in March, President Lee also addressed the protection of overseas Koreans as a key agenda item. In a summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he requested measures to address violent crimes against Korean nationals and urged the resolution of related cases. He also expressed his commitment to ensuring the safety of overseas Koreans during a meeting with the Korean community in the Philippines.

President Lee has consistently maintained a firm stance on violent crimes committed abroad by or against Korean nationals, declaring that "no matter how far they go, we will pursue them to the ends of the earth to bring them to justice."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.