Gov't pursuing other high-profile fugitives - Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang assured the public  on Tuesday that authorities are also hunting down other high-profile suspects including those among the so-called "Big 5" fugitives like retired major general Jovito Palparan.

Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said Palparan's arrest earlier today shows President Aquino's strong determination to bring to justice the high-profile criminals who remain at large.

"Patuloy ang pagkilos ng ating mga alagad ng batas para sila ay matunton at mapanagot," Coloma said at a televised press briefing.

One of the so-called "Big 5" fugitives who carried a P2-million bounty, Palparan was arrested earlier Tuesday by operatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Dubbed as the "berdugo" (butcher), Palparan went to hiding in December 2011 after a Bulacan court issued a warrant of arrest against him for the alleged kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño.

Palparan was among the high-profile personalities arrested this year. Last March, Globe Asiatique president Delfin Lee, another "Big 5" fugitive, was arrested in Manila.

Lee, who disappeared in 2012, had been charged with estafa for allegedly defrauding Pag-Ibig Fund of almost P6.6 billion.

After the businessman's arrest, President Aquino himself hinted that another big fish may be captured soon.

Besides Palparan and Lee, also arrested last March were Benito Tiamzon, chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, his wife Wilma, secretary general of the CPP, and five other communist rebels.

The Tiamzons are facing 15 counts of murder and were arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by a regional trial court in Leyte.

While these personalities are now detained, three of the "Big 5" fugitives remain at large - former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, and Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr.

The Reyes siblings are wanted for the murder of Palawan broadcaster Gerry Ortega while Ecleo has been convicted of parricide.

Earlier today, the Department of Justice urged the fugitives to surrender.

"You cannot be in hiding forever," Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said at a televised press briefing. "Flight, in the first place, is an admission of guilt."

De Lima also conveyed her message to former police officer Cezar Mancao and Reynald Lim, who remain both at large.

Mancao is a suspect in the murders of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000. Lim, on the other hand, is the brother and co-accused of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.