TRACKER teams have been formed to arrest a former police officer involved in the killing of a South Korean businessman in 2016, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil yesterday said, five days after Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin ordered the police to have Rafael Dumlao III arrested.
Marbil said the PNP has been tracking Dumlao for some time now.
Dumlao was acquitted by a lower court in 2019 from charges relating to the 2016 killing of businessman Jee Ick Joo.
Last year, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court ruling, leading to the order for his arrest.
On May 21, Bersamin, who is the chairman of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), directed the PNP to arrest Dumlao to restore public trust and build capacity with international partners when it comes to the resolution of high-profile cases involving foreign nationals.
He has also announced a P1 million reward for information that would lead to Dumlao’s arrest.
“We’ve been looking for Col. Dumlao for some time now. He was acquitted by the court in 2019 and his case was revived in 2024,” said Marbil.
“When we found out that he has a warrant (of arrest), we formed tracker teams,” said Marbil, without elaborating when they learned the court has ordered the arrest of Dumlao.
He said Dumlao went into hiding after the revival of his case.
“He’s now hiding. When we learned (about the warrant), we formed tracker teams. We don’t want to give you (media) more details but we are focused on finding him,” he added.
Marbil said policemen have gone to some areas where they believe Dumlao could be hiding, but they went home empty handed.
“Before, he sent surrender feeler but now (none). We have been to places where he went. I don’t want to say (where) these places (are),” he also said.
Marbil stressed that the PNP is bent on arresting Dumlao.
“He knows how to hide, he is a former policeman. But soon, we’re going to find him,” he said.
Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval yesterday said Dumlao is still in the country.
Sandoval said the fugitive policeman’s last travel abroad was in 2024 and he returned to Manila after a few days.
“He is in the country. His last travel was in 2024. He left with a court-issued allow departure order, and came back a few days after,” she said.
“He has a hold departure order and an Immigration lookout bulletin,” she added.
Sandoval said if any immigration agents will have any encounter with Dumlao, they will immediately inform law enforcement authorities.
“Arrest warrants are implemented by law enforcement authorities against Filipinos. If encountered, we inform the agencies concerned, who will implement any such orders issued against him,” she said. – With Ashzel Hachero
