2 ‘pork’ suspects can’t be found—CIDG

MANILA, Philippines – Two suspects in the pork barrel scam can no longer be found by police in their official residences after the Sandiganbayan ordered their arrest for plunder over the pork barrel scam.

According to the return of warrant sent to the Sandiganbayan by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), John De Asis, the supposed “errand boy” and driver of Janet Lim-Napoles and Pauline Labayen, former deputy chief of staff of Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, could no longer be found in their Las Piñas and Parañaque homes.

In the return of warrant dated June 30, the CIDG said it went to the residences of De Asis at Block 20, Lot 9, Phase III, Gladiola Street, TS Cruz, Almanza 2, Las Piñas and Labayen at No. 3821, Daddodil Street, Sun Valley subdivision, Parañaque.

De Asis is both a co-accused in the plunder charge of Senators Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. while Labayen is Estrada’s co-respondent.

Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk of Court Renato Bocar said they may be considered “fugitives” if found that they were evading arrest from police.

Of those charged with plunder, those who surrendered were Revilla, Estrada, and Richard Cambe, Revilla’s legislative chief of staff.

Meanwhile, Napoles is detained on a separate charge of serious illegal detention.

The arrest warrant against Estrada and his co-accused was issued June 23 while the order against Revilla was signed June 20.

The anti-graft court has yet to find probable cause to issue the arrest warrant against Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

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