Palace mum on reward money for Acierto’s arrest

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday kept its distance from the P10-million bounty for the capture of former police colonel Eduardo Acierto.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo has refused to answer why the Office of the President has offered such a big bounty for the arrest of Acierto.

Acierto had linked President Duterte’s close friend and erstwhile economic adviser Michael Yang to illegal drug operations in the country.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra had confirmed the P10-million bounty comes from the Office of the President but refused to elaborate.

Panelo said he does not think the bounty is linked to the President’s tirades against the former police official.

Panelo also downplayed insinuations that the President was training his guns on Acierto, who has gone into hiding.

A warrant has been issued for Acierto’s arrest stemming from his alleged involvement in the controversial drug importation using magnetic lifters seized at the Manila International Container Port last year.

Pressed further on Duterte’s public rants asking the police and the military if the “son of a bi*** Acierto is still alive,” Panelo explained it was just a figure of speech.

“He means, why haven’t you arrested him yet when he has a warrant of arrest,” Panelo said. “By now, you should be used to the President’s style of language.”

While Duterte did not mince words in belittling the claims of Acierto, who surfaced last May accusing Yang and a certain Allan Lim as being behind the large shabu laboratory discovered in Davao City in 2004, the Chief Executive did not hide his anger at the dismissed cop.

The President has since turned the tables on Acierto regarding illegal drug activities and linked him to the killing of Korean executive Jee Ick-joo at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame in 2017.

The PNP has launched a manhunt for Acierto, who had accused people close to the President of protecting drug syndicates in the country.

Malacañang said the President continues to trust Yang.