PNP urges ex-cop Acierto to surrender

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday urged fugitive former police official Eduardo Acierto to surrender after the government offered a P10-million reward for his arrest.

The Manila regional trial court has issued an arrest warrant and hold departure order against Acierto and other accused suspects in the smuggling of billions worth of shabu last year.

PNP spokesman Col. Benard Banac said it would be better if Acierto would just surrender instead of evading law enforcement authorities.

“We encourage him to surrender and submit himself to the legal processes so he can also give his side,” Banac said, adding that the PNP would ensure Acierto’s safety in the event he turns himself in to authorities.

“If he is in our custody, we will protect him and ensure that nothing untoward will happen to him,” Banac said.

He also appealed to people who might be coddling Acierto to come forward as he warned they could be held liable if proven they are helping the wanted former police official.

Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra revealed that the Palace has raised the bounty for any information that would lead to Acierto’s capture.

Acierto surfaced last month and revealed that President Duterte’s former economic adviser Michael Yang is involved in illegal drugs. He went into hiding and has not been found since.

Banac said there are no indications that Acierto has left the country, although they are not discounting the possibility that he could have escaped through the country’s southern back door.

“We are verifying with the Bureau of Immigration on his actual record, whether he has already left or not,” he said.

Banac said the reward money is an added boost in the efforts to locate Acierto. He clarified, however, that police officers will pursue the elusive former police official even without the bounty.

“With or without the reward money, the mandate of the PNP is to find him in compliance to the order of the court,” he said.