PNP increases bounties for Reyes brothers, Ecleo

PNP chief Nicanor Bartolome: Increased bounties for fugitives

MANILA, Philippines—Huge prizes await anyone who can help flush out the so-called “Big Four” fugitives: Jovito Palparan, the brothers Joel and Mario Reyes, and Ruben Ecleo, the Philippine National Police said on Tuesday.

In an interview at Camp Crame, PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome dangled the cash rewards for the four wanted persons, who had embarrassed the PNP by evading capture for months despite the deployment of tracker teams.

Bartolome said retired Major General Palparan, who is wanted for the disappearance of two University of the Philippines activists, continues to carry a P1 million prize on his head.

On the other hand, the PNP is recommending an additional P300,000 cash reward for any information leading to the arrest of former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and his brother Coron Mayor Mario Reyes Jr., the suspected masterminds in the January 2011 murder of Gerardo “Doc Gerry” Ortega.

This is on top of the P1.55 million previously offered by private individuals and groups for the brothers’ arrest.

As for Dinagat Island Representative Ruben Ecleo, who was recently sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of his wife 10 years ago, Bartolome said the PNP would recommend an additional P300,000 for his capture, raising the current bounty to P450,000.

Asked if the PNP had any leads to the whereabouts of the four, Bartolome said there were some, but “one lead can change its color from time to time.”

“Maybe at this time, the lead is very positive, then moments later, it will change color. But just the same, we will continue to pursue the first lead but we also welcome other leads in other possible places,” he said.

Asked why the reward system was apparently not working, he said the hiding places of the fugitives were apparently “in their control” because of family members protecting them.

On Monday, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group pressed for a more aggressive hunt for the four fugitives and deployed an 80-strong task force.

CIDG Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said the CIDG had activated a special task group under Senior Superintendent Keith Ernald Singian, its deputy director for operation, to lead efforts in hunting down the fugitives.

He also directed all regional and provincial chiefs to mobilize the CIDG’s nationwide network of community informants and to prioritize the gathering of information.

Pagdilao said this should “not be limited to the whereabouts of the Big Four but also to identify the personalities that continuously provide refuge and financial support, and include them as CIDG’s targets of operation.”