Ping to PNP: Capture high-profile fugitives

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to work 24/7 to capture the country’s seven high profile fugitives after President Aquino raised the reward for information leading to their arrest.

Lacson, a former PNP chief, gave the police his unsolicited advice: Work double time even on holidays.

He said the reward would encourage the public to tip off the authorities about the whereabouts of retired major general Jovito Palparan, former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother Mario, Globe Asiatique owner Delfin Lee, and Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo.

Malacañang had earlier increased the bounty for their arrest from P1 million to P2 million each.

Two other fugitives – Benito Tiamzon, leader of a faction of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (NPA), and Jorge Madlos of the NPA – both carry a P5.6-million reward on their head.

Fr. Edu Gariguez, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace, who was reportedly once hunted by Palparan, yesterday expressed his support for the government’s move to increase the bounty for the arrest of the retired general. – With Evelyn Macairan