CIDG forms team to round up 20 ‘pork’ suspects

MANILA, Philippines—Trackers teams have been formed by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) to hunt down more than 20 remaining respondents in the graft and plunder charges linked to the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

As Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Revilla’s former senior aide Richard Cambe turned themselves in to the police, dozens more have yet to be arrested.

Detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged brains behind the multi-billion scam in connivance with several lawmakers, is one of the respondents.‎

Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office chief, confirmed the formation of teams tasked to arrest those accused who are still unaccounted for.

Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos, Napoles’ children James and Jo Christine, and 18 respondents have already posted bail for the graft charges.

Meanwhile, a CIDG official said the creation of tracker teams dedicated to the rest of pork barrel scam suspects have long been part of the police’s contingency measures and preparation.

Chief Inspector Elizabeth Jasmin, CIDG spokesperson, said the CIDG will coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in accounting for respondents who fled the country.

At least 10 accused in the graft and plunder case have already left the country.

Aside from the tracker teams, Sindac added that police stations nationwide will be given copies of arrest warrants for the first two plunder and graft cases.

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