MANILA — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson welcomed the arrest of a former police official tagged as the alleged mastermind in the abduction and killing of Korean trader Jee Ick Joo nearly a decade ago, saying it demonstrates that accountability can still catch up with offenders.

The arrested suspect was identified as former Police Lt. Col. Rafael Dumlao III, who was previously dismissed from service in 2018.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced Dumlao’s arrest in Quezon City before dawn Tuesday.

Lacson, who led the Senate investigation into the case, said the development reflects the persistence of law enforcement efforts.

“Law enforcement never sleeps. The long arm of the law is always stretched to close in and snatch its quarry,” Lacson, who served as Philippine National Police chief from 1999 to 2001, said in a post on X.

He also reiterated the need for continued internal cleansing within the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prevent similar cases from happening again.

During his term as chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Lacson filed Senate Resolution 265 calling for an inquiry into Jee’s abduction and killing, along with other reported kidnap-for-ransom cases allegedly involving PNP personnel operating under the guise of “Project Tokhang,” the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.

The Senate inquiry led to the filing of criminal charges against Dumlao and other individuals involved.

Jee was reported abducted from his home in Angeles City in October 2016, but investigations later showed he was killed inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

Lacson earlier described the killing as “probably the most unwelcome wake-up call” for then PNP chief Ronald de la Rosa, urging leadership to intensify efforts against rogue personnel.

“When I was the Chief PNP, I really hit hard on the inept, corrupt and undisciplined policemen, regardless of rank, or what I referred to at that time as ICUs. My primary concern was to do justice to the sacrifices of the overwhelmingly many honest and hardworking police officers,” he added.