De Lima warns coddlers of fugitive Pagadian mayor

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima warned yesterday people coddling fugitive Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co that they may face criminal charges.

Speaking to reporters, De Lima said she has instructed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to intensify the manhunt for Co pursuant to the arrest order of the Iligan City Regional Trial Court Branch 1.

“Anyone who would safekeep him or would assist or help him evade the service of the warrant of arrest can be held liable for abetting such evasion of the warrant of arrest,” she said.

“That’s obstruction of justice. From the looks of it, it seemed that Mayor Co had advanced information about his arrest, that’s why the NBI failed to serve the warrant on him last Friday.”

De Lima contested the claim of Co’s lawyer Trixie Angeles that the arrest warrant cannot be final without a hearing.

“Pending any such relief from any competent court, the NBI and PNP (Philippine National Police) should intensify the manhunt for the warrant to be served,” she said.

Angeles said they had immediately filed a motion for reconsideration on the RTC’s ruling denying their motion for judicial determination of probable cause and to recall the warrant pending resolution of appeal.

Pending resolution of their pleas, law enforcers should defer the arrest, she added.

De Lima believes Angeles is being truthful in saying her client is still in the country.

“Through the normal points, I don’t think he would be able to leave the country because we alerted the Bureau of Immigration both verbally and in writing,” she said.

“There is a warrant then there is a hold departure order. Anytime he will pass through the airport, he should be detained.”

Co was ordered arrested for his alleged involvement in the P12-billion investment scam of Aman Futures Group Phils. Inc.

The NBI tried but failed to serve the warrant at his home, office and other places in Pagadian City.

His staff at Pagadian City Hall said he was in Manila on official business, but Angeles told reporters he is in Pagadian.

Co has denied the charges and claimed that he was also a victim of the scam.

Prosecutors dismissed his denial and charged him based on a certification of Aman Futures that he is an authorized agent, along with testimonies of victims.