Tipster gets P1-M reward for kidnap suspect’s arrest

President Arroyo personally handed over a P1-million cash reward to the informant that led elements of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) to the capture last month of the fourth most wanted kidnapping suspect in the country.

The informant, whose identity was not revealed to the public for his own security, received the reward money in simple rites at the Malacañang music room wearing a ski mask.

The reward was for the capture last Dec. 4 of Allan Niegas by the NAKTF and operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 8 in Barangay Culasi-an, Capoocan, Leyte. He was allegedly responsible for at least eight kidnap-for-ransom cases.

"Welcome to the newest member of the millionaire’s club," Mrs. Arroyo told the masked informant, who is about 50 years old, medium-built and at least five feet and five inches tall.

NAKTF chief Angelo Reyes said that since the NAKTF was created last Oct. 26, it is the first time that they awarded reward money to an informant from funds appropriated in the annual budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

"There is a process. We have to make sure that the right informant gets the amount before the reward is given. It goes with the process," Reyes explained why it took them so long to give the reward money.

Mrs. Arroyo also commended the public’s cooperation for the success of NAKTF in eliminating various kidnap-for-ransom syndicates and the capture of its leaders.

"This success is because of the help of our people, the ordinary Filipinos," Mrs. Arroyo said.

The President also commended NAKTF’s move to disseminate photos of wanted kidnappers in the provinces.

The informant, she said, saw Niegas’ picture in the NAKTF wanted list and reported his whereabouts to police authorities in Leyte.

Meanwhile, Reyes said that he has already submitted to Mrs. Arroyo a proposed draft of an executive order that will amend EO 155, which created the Anti-Smuggling Intelligence and Investigation Center (ASIIC), to strengthen the government’s campaign against smuggling.

This was after Mrs. Arroyo designated Reyes as concurrent anti-smuggling czar.