MANILA - Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Thursday assured South Korean that Filipino authorities will solve the kidnap-slay businessman Ick Joo Jee.

"Let me express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family of the late Jee Ick Joo, even as I assure the local Korean community of our level best in getting to the bottom of this case to serve the ends of justice," Dela Rosa said at the Senate's first hearing on Jee's murder.

Dela Rosa said the South Korean case showed that criminal gangs were using the police anti-drug drive as a cover for their operations.

"All indications point to an elaborate web of criminal activity by some police personnel operating under the cover of legitimate police operations," he said.

The case, he said, should "should serve as an eye opener, not only for the PNP but for the entire justice system that are in need of legislated reforms."

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Jee was kidnapped by suspected police officers in Angeles City, Pampanga last October 18, 2016.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Jee was killed on the same day he was kidnapped, allegedly inside PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame.

• 'Tokhang-for-ransom': Timeline of South Korean businessman's abduction, killing