MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III expressed confidence on Wednesday that one more most wanted fugitive may soon be captured following the arrest of businessman Delfin Lee.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the Pinoy Music Summit in Manila, Aquino said they are expecting the looming arrest of this high-profile fugitive.
"Palagay ko 'pag nagtagumpay ang isang kasalukuyang operasyon, mabibilib kayo doon sa kalibre ng mga nadakip at madadakip," Aquino said in his televised interview with media. "Palagay ko pwede kong ipangako sa inyo na magugulat kayo kung magtagumpay [ang operasyon].
Aquino did not disclose further details since they may jeopardize police operations. The President said he will just wait for the operations to end.
Lee, owner of Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp, was arrested on March 6 and had been detained in Pampanga.
The businessman is facing syndicated estafa charges for defrauding Pag-Ibig Fund of about P7 billion by using fake borrowers and fake documents.
Lee was one of the high-profile fugitives known as the "Big 5" carrying a bounty of P2 million.
The four others were former-Army general Jovito Palparan; former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes; and Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr., who is the leader of Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association.
Palparan is charged with the kidnapping and illegal detention of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006.
The Reyes siblings are wanted for the murder of broadcaster Gerry Ortega while Ecleo has been convicted of parricide.