MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile on Monday sought the extradition of a couple linked into the alleged attempt to smuggle black corals and other marine products in the country.
Enrile’s move came after the Senate failed to arrest the couple – Li Yu Ming (and not Joe Pring as earlier reported in the news) and Olivia Li for their failure to attend the hearing by the Senate committee on environment and natural resources.
Li Yu Ming allegedly left the country for Hong Kong last June 7 while no departure record was found regarding the wife.
Enrile said the couple should be extradited back to the country to show to the world and the people that the government was enforcing its law.
He also asked the Department of Justice to take over and re-investigate the cases filed against the couple.
“Maybe at this time the department should take over the case, re-investigate it, file the proper charges and then relieve these guys from their job and investigate them for the satisfaction of the Senate,” he Senate leader said, referring to the prosecutors in Zamboanga, who were handling the case against the two.
“And then we ask for the extradition of these couple into the country so that we can show to the world and to our people that we are earnest in enforcing our laws,” Enrile added.