Get ‘Big 6’ fugitives, De Lima dares NBI

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima: Get Big 6 fugitives. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday challenged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), especially the intelligence services, to find the so-called “Big 6” high-profile fugitives to face the charges that have been filed against them through the efforts of the NBI.

Speaking at the 77th founding anniversary of the NBI, De Lima said the NBI investigations into the cases of these fugitives will be useless if the latter continue to evade justice.

“These are the follow-throughs that we need to improve on. Without them, all we have are pyrrhic victories, impressive to look upon but barren and meaningless in the final analysis,” De Lima said in her speech.

De Lima told reporters she was making the challenge because it was “frustrating” that the NBI through its fact-finding and investigative teams worked so hard to solve high-profile cases and yet the suspects remain free.

She said she was addressing the challenge to the NBI intelligence services, noting that it was a big thing if this division was efficient and knew what it was supposed to do.

The justice secretary told the agency to “up the ante.”

“I challenge you: Find these people and make them face the charges that were filed because of your own efforts, and those of other investigating agencies. We need results, and I challenge you to deliver,” she said.

The Big 6 fugitives are Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother Mario, the former mayor of Coron town; former Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr.; Delfin Lee, owner of the Globe Asiatique real estate company; and Reynald “Jojo” Lim, the brother of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Tracker teams have failed to determine the whereabouts of these six fugitives.

Meanwhile, De Lima issued a second challenge to the NBI, for the agency’s officials to prove that one of them is capable of leading the agency.

Medardo de Lemos is currently the officer in charge of the NBI after NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas resigned.

De Lima asked all but one of the six NBI deputy directors to resign, saying she had trust issues on two to four of them.

“There is nothing I would like better than to raise someone from the inside to the top leadership of the bureau, but I would not support such a move unless I can find worthy candidates. This is about performance, concrete and tangible results. Deliver. And so shall you be rewarded,” she said.

De Lima acknowledged that she had misgivings “about the commitment to truth and justice harbored by certain officials or individuals in the bureau”. She challenged the agency’s officials to “surprise me in a positive way, and prove me wrong about these misgivings.”

De Lima told reporters she was still “vetting” possible candidates that she could recommend to the President.

“A few names are being considered, including insiders,” she said.