Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. ARNOLD ALMACEN/蜜桃工作室 FILE PHOTO
The embassy of the Republic of Korea in Manila clarified聽on Thursday聽that it was Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, himself, who promised to stop any investigation into the so-called Korean mafia without their prompting.
In a statement, it said, 鈥淭he Korean Embassy regrets very much that, based on wrong and unfounded information, Secretary Aguirre made some misleading statements involving so-called Korean mafia at the Senate hearing on聽Feb. 23, 2017.鈥�
The embassy stressed, 鈥淭he embassy officials did not ask the Secretary to stop any investigation concerning the Korean mafia.鈥�
According to the statement, Aguirre asked to meet the embassy鈥檚 consul-general and a police attach茅 as well as the widow of Jee Ick-joo on February 13.
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鈥淗e (Aguirre) wanted to clarify the rumor of Mr. Jee鈥檚 possible collaboration with an unspecified Korean mafia,鈥� it said.
The embassy official and Jee鈥檚 wife maintained that the victim lived an honest life and was a conscientious businessman having no connection 鈥渨ith any malicious Korean persons.鈥澛� The embassy cited the Philippine National Police鈥檚 鈥渃onsistent confirmations鈥� that the kidnapping and murder had nothing to do with a Korean mafia.
Likewise Jee鈥檚 widow had categorically denied that he was kidnapped twice before. The widow also asked that the National Bureau of Investigation withdraw from the joint probe in her husband鈥檚 killing 鈥渟o that the investigation will not be delayed and proceed speedily.鈥�
鈥淭hen Secretary Aguirre promised that the DOJ (Department of Justice) would not pursue any longer the angle of possible linkage with a Korean mafia in its future investigations into the case,鈥� the statement said.
The embassy also clarified that a 鈥淢r. Kang Tai-shik,鈥� whose name was brought up by Aguirre in the meeting, is a long-established Korean businessman with no connection with Jee鈥檚 case.
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Further the embassy maintained, 鈥淭he Embassy has every confidence that no official has been compromised by Korean mafia. The Embassy asks for any concrete evidence that substantiates his remarks. It would take full responsibility for it, if any.鈥�
It concluded, 鈥淭he Embassy is strongly distressed that this false information could tarnish its honor and reputation.鈥� RAM