Philippine News: Suspect in Korean kidnap-slay a no-show in scheduled arraignment

Only two of the 7 suspects listed in the original Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution regarding Jee’s case are able to attend the scheduled arraignment

FACING THE COURT. SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel is escorted by National Bureau of Investigation agents and policemen at the Angeles City Hall of Justice. Photo by Jun A. Malig

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – One of the policemen suspected in the kidnapping and killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo failed to appear at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 58 here on Wednesday, April 19, for his supposed arraignment.

Lawyer Myrna Janina Banaga, legal counsel of SPO4 Roy Villegas, said the Philippine National Police Custodial Center had notified Villegas’ parents that it could not escort him to the court here because it did not receive any subpoena.

The parents of Villegas were present in the court. His mother even stood up from her seat and came forward to explain to Judge Irineo Pangilinan Jr the circumstances behind her son’s absence in the court.

Only two of the 7 suspects listed in the original Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution on Jee’s case were able to attend the scheduled arraignment.

SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel was escorted by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, some of them wearing bullet-proof vests and carrying assault rifles.

Ramon Yalung, who was excluded from the list of suspects in the amended DOJ resolution, arrived in yellow inmate uniform escorted by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel.

Judge Pangilinan decided to reset the arraignment of the suspects to May 31, 2017 after receiving the DOJ’s motion on its amended resolution. He also ordered the issuance of a subpoena to Villegas to compel him to attend next month’s arraignment.

The RTC judge directed the warden of the Angeles City District Jail to release Yalung after hearing both legal counsels of Sta. Isabel and Villegas that they had no objection to Yalung’s exclusion from the case.

Two other cases were separately filed at the RTC here – kidnapping with illegal detention and carnapping – against Sta Isabel, Villegas, Superintendent Rafael Dumlao III and Jerry Omlang.

Jee’s widow, Choi Kyung-jin, and several other Koreans, including Korean Embassy Consul Kim Dae Hee, attended the supposed arraignment at the RTC Branch 58 here on Wednesday.

Kim told reporters that he was there “only to observe the court proceedings.”

Jee was kidnapped from Friendship Plaza Subdivision in this city on October 18, 2016. (READ: Jee Ick Joo case: Tangled webs, inconsistent stories)

His wife reportedly paid P5 million to the abductors, without knowing that her husband was already killed inside PNP Camp Crame headquarters and cremated by his captors. – Rappler.com

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Chelsea legend Didier Drogba: I would have loved to play for Antonio Conte

Chelsea legend: Didier Drogba Getty Images

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says he would have loved to play for Antonio Conte during his career.

Drogba scored 164 goals in 381 appearances for the west Londoners and is regarded as a club legend, having netted the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final.

The 39-year-old, who recently joined US side Phoenix Rising as a player and co-owner, thrived at Stamford Bridge under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Guus Hiddink.

But the Ivorian is adamant he would also have cherished an opportunity to work alongside Conte in west London.

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"I would have loved [to play for Conte]. I think I would have scored a few goals," Drogba told Soccer AM.

"The way the team is playing everything is set up for the strikers.

"I've spoken to him many times and played against him when he was at Juventus."

Conte has made an immediate impact since taking charge at Chelsea last summer and has guided the club to the brink of their fifth Premier League title.

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Chelsea are four points clear at the top of the table with six games left to play and Drogba has been impressed with the Italian's coach work.

Drogba added: "What a team - character, attitude, desire to win games and hard work.

"He's really doing a good job there."

 

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Donald Trump's son, Barron, pictured in full Arsenal kit on White House lawn

Kickabout: Barron Trump is pictured in an Arsenal kit on the White House lawn (Twitter/@danasdirt)

Arsenal look set to miss out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years, but at least they're reaching a global audience.

The son of president Donald Trump, Barron, has been pictured dressed from head to toe in Gunners gear while having a kickabout on the White House lawn.

The 11-year-old was taking time away from the crowds as he made a rare public appearance for the 139th Easter Egg Roll at the president's residence.

The event is put on by the First Lady every year and was billed as Melania Trump's first major test since her husband was sworn in earlier this year. 

Several members of MLS side DC United attended the lawn party and United forward Patrick Mullins was invited to to meet Barron inside the White House. 

“He was very knowledgeable about soccer, knew about DC United and was interested to know more,” Mullins told the Washington Post.

“[For a] little kid to have a passion for the game and to be knowledgeable and have a conversation with us, it makes me feel good about kids growing up playing the game.”

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Harley Street doctor launches charity to help British soldiers disfigured in battle

Vital treatment: Patient Mark Allen

A Harley Street doctor who helps British soldiers disfigured in battle has launched a charity with his wife to fund their ongoing treatment.

Dr Aamer Khan is working with Afghanistan veterans including Mark Allen, who lost his legs when he stepped on a bomb, and Martyn Compton, who was badly burned when his armoured vehicle was hit by a Taliban missile.

Dr Khan and wife Lesley Reynolds run Harley Street Skin Clinic. They set up the Back on Track charity and want to raise £250,000 a year to fund the treatment of 10 injured soldiers, from facial reconstruction to non-surgical procedures to reduce the impact of scars.

The aim is to provide help that is not available at Headley Court — the defence medical rehabilitation centre near Epsom — or on the NHS. 

“We realised there was a huge need for helping people in the situation where the NHS had done everything it could and they’d been discharged from Headley Court,” said Dr Khan.

“They had done the basics of getting them back on their feet, but it wasn’t enough to get them back into life.” The clinic helped refer Mr Compton for plastic surgery at a specialist NHS unit at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Back on Track: Harley Street's Dr Khan with patient Mark Allen and Lesley Reynolds

He was serving in the Household Cavalry when he was caught in a blast from an improvised explosive device (IED). It destroyed his eyelids, meaning his eyes are always open, placing him at risk of losing his vision from chronic eye disease.

Mr Allen, 26, has undergone more than 20 treatments for shrapnel wounds to his arms and neck sustained while serving with 1st battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment in 2010. He first met Dr Khan when his girlfriend bought him a treatment as a gift.

“I had lots of scar tissue and shrapnel wounds on my neck and face,” Mr Allen said. “It’s laser treatment. It’s been am-azing. It’s made me more confident and made it easier to go out in public.”

Back on Track and the Irish Guards Benevolent Fund will host a gala dinner next Thursday, with famous names including Patsy Kensit and Claire Sweeney due to attend. The charity also holds an annual celebrity go-kart racing event in September to raise funds.

Dr Khan said: “There are a lot more out there who don’t know they can get this help. Our charity covers any soldier who is fighting for the British Army and gets injured in action. We also help them get on track with hobbies.

"Soldiers are active people who love doing things. When they are injured they can’t get back into hobbies because there’s a cost attached to adaptations.”

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