Ricky Sta. Isabel has P17.3-M net worth – PNP exec

JEE ICK JOO KIDNAP-SLAY CASE

Published January 26, 2017 12:08pm

By KATHRINA CHARMAINE ALVAREZ, GMA News

SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, the primary suspect in the kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo, declared a P17.3-million net worth, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday. 

Sta. Isabel has P14.4 million in assets, and real and personal properties worth P2.9 million in his 2015 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), Chief Supt. Roel Obusan, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), told the Senate public order committee. 

The Senate panel is conducting a legislative investigation on the kidnap for ransom cases allegedly perpetrated by members of the police force. 

Sta. Isabel also has five house and lots declared, all in Bagombong, Caloocan, and a four-storey commercial building in Cubao Quezon City. 

He also declared four vehicles, a 2014 Toyota Hi-Lux, 2012 Toyota Vios, 2014 Honda tricycle, and 2012 Kawasaki tricycle. 

Sta. Isabel also declared liabilities worth P3 million. 

Obusan said Sta. Isabel's net worth in 2014 was P20.3 million. 

Sta. Isabel said he only earns P8,000 monthly from his job. 

Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee, urged the PNP to further pursue its financial investigation. 

"Importante yan eh. Pag specialized unit o special unit ang pupuntahan, dapat hindi lang partial background investigation, complete background investigation [dapat] and record check, diba?" Lacson said. 

"There's a lot to learn from this bitter lesson pero we have to learn from it and moving forward, i-correct na natin," he added.

For his part, Sta. Isabel said he acquired loans from the PNP to fund their business. 

He said his wife, Jinky, a law graduate, was in charge of their assets. 

"Sa sipag niya dahil sa insurance po, commission-based diyan kaya napalago yung business namin, lumaki po," he told the committee. 

He said they offer insurance, and own branches of Western Union and Bayad Center, and a lotto outlet. — RSJ, GMA News