Janet Lim-Napoles INQUIRER.net file photo
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group admitted that arresting fugitive Reynald “Jojo” Lim, brother of detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, remains a challenge to them.
But Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong, PNP CIDG chief, gave assurances that the case of Lim pending his arrest warrant for allegedly detaining pork barrel scam principal witness Benhru Luy is still at the top of their priorities this year.
Lim and Napoles have been charged with serious illegal detention filed by Luy after they allegedly detained him from December 2012 until March last year apparently to prevent him from exposing Napoles’ involvement in the billions-worth Priority Development Assistance Fund scam with some government officials and lawmakers.
In August, Napoles surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III 10 hours after he announced a P10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the “pork barrel scam queen.”
Until the present, Lim has not been found by the authorities despite the P5 million bounty for his arrest.
Magalong, who recently assumed the CIDG chief post, told the reporters Friday that even though Lim remains elusive to CIDG, they do not have any plans of including him in the five most wanted persons, or the so-called “Big Five.”
He said that the manhunt operation against Lim would still go on as his case stays as a priority for the CIDG.
The Big Five fugitives are retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother, former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, former Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. and Globe Asiatique developer Delfin Lee. Aquino offered a P2 million bounty for the arrest of each fugitive.
The former Cordillera Administrative Region police director also noted that they are yet to face about 3,000 cold cases from local police stations nationwide.
“[That would entail] a ratio of three cases per one CIDG personnel. ‘Yung iba, matatandang kaso na (Others are already old cases),” he said.
Magalong explained that if after six months local police units fail to resolve cases, these will be transferred to the CIDG.
To address this, he said the CIDG would procure this year special equipment to help them in tracking fugitives and criminals.
He, however, declined to reveal the said equipment.
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