Gov't shells out P51-M bounty vs 'enemies of the state'

MANILA, Philippines - The national government has shelled out at least P51 million this year to informers who provided information that led law enforcement agencies to arrest alleged "enemies of the state", rights group Karapatan said on Wednesday. 

Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said only the government knows who these informers are.

She cited that in 2012, the Department of National Defense and the Department of Interior and Local Government issued a joint order that bears the names of 'wanted communist leaders' with a corresponding bounty amounting to more than P466 million. 

"The list legitimizes illegal arrests and false charges, aside from legitimizing a syndicated money-making venture," she said.  

Palabay said that this year, National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultants Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria-Tiamzon, both of whom had P10-million bounty each, were nabbed. 

Government security forces also nabbed Roy Erecre, also a peace consultant for the Visayas region who had a P5.6-million reward this year, she said. 

Since the implementation of the joint order in 2012, at least P88 million was already dispensed as bounty.  

Security guard Rolly Panesa, who was accused as Communist Party of the Philippines leader Benjamin Mendoza, was arrested and  detained for 10 months, she said. 

A reward of P5.6 million for his arrest was given to the alleged 'tipster' who gave information leading to Panesa's arrest, Palabay added.