PNP warns: Coddlers of fugitive Acierto may face charges, too

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday warned coddlers of Eduardo Acierto that they may also face charges for enabling the former police official to hide from the law.

PNP Spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac issued this notice as manhunt continues against the dismissed police colonel. Banac said PNP is not discounting the possibility that some individuals might be helping Acierto evade arrest.

“Ang paalala natin sa mga maaring may kinalaman at posibleng nagkakanlong sa hinahanap na ex-Police Colonel Acierto, maari pong makasuhan ang sinuman ang mapatunayan na tumutulong or nagkakanlong sa isang pinaghahanap ng batas,” Banac said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Acierto has gone into hiding since October 2018 after being implicated in the smuggling of illegal drugs, but surfaced in an interview with select reporters in March as he tagged former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang in the drug trade.

Banac said there is no indication that Acierto already left the country. But, he also said, PNP is continuously coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration on the matter.

A Manila regional trial court has earlier issued an arrest warrant against Acierto, who is being accused of involvement in the smuggling of billions of pesos worth of crystal meth or “shabu” – found inside several magnetic lifters – into the country.

The local court likewise issued a hold departure order against Acierto to prevent the ex-policeman from leaving the country.

On Monday, the chief of the justice department said Malacañang has offered P10 million reward for any information that could lead to Acierto’s arrest.

READ: Palace offers P10-M bounty for Acierto’s arrest – DOJ chief

Banac said the PNP leadership lauds Malacañang’s bounty offer since it would be a “big help” to law enforcers looking for the dismissed police official.

Banac, however, noted that even without the P10-million reward PNP will do its mandate to hunt down Acierto. /kga