Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima expressed dismay over the lack of progress on the hunt against the “Big 5 fugitives” and ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) anew to intensify its manhunt operation against them.
“Up to this very day, no positive result yet. They remain to be fugitive and it causes so much frustration on our part,” De Lima told reporters Tuesday in an ambush interview.
“I hope it is not a sign of lack of concern on the part of our citizen. I am sure alam ng mga kababayan natin kung gaano kaimportante na mapanagot sila (the people knew that it is important that the fugitives are brought to justice),” the justice chief said.
In August last year, President Benigno Aquino III issued a directive raising the reward for the “Big Five Fugitives.”
On the Big Five list are former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and his brother Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, as well as former general Jovito Palparan, Globe Asiatique developer Delfin Lee, Dinagat Rep. Ruben Ecleo, and New People’s Army leaders Benito Tiamzon and Jorge Madlos. [The Reyes brothers and the NPA leaders are counted as one case each, hence the Big Five list.]