2 tipsters get over P5M for arrest of Delfin Lee, NPA leader

MANILA, Philippines - Two informants received on Monday over P5 million cash reward for giving information that lead to the arrests of fugitive businessman Delfin Lee and alleged communist leader Grayson Magranga Naogsan.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima handed a total of P5.2 million cash to the two informants during simple rites at his office in Camp Crame.

The PNP offered rewards of P2 million and P3.2 million for information that would lead to the capture of Lee and Naogsan, respectively. The money came from the PNP Confidential Intelligence Fund.

Naogsan gained notoriety for his alleged involvement in a number of atrocities perpetrated by the New People's Army in the Cordillera region. Authorities arrested him in Baguio City.

From 2003 up to 2012, the PNP said that Naogsan was involved in treacherous raids and ambuscades of government troops, resulting to the death of 23 soldiers and members of the CAFGU, death of a barangay councilwoman and wounding of 30 other government troops to include a policeman.

Naogsan has 10 standing arrest warrants, mostly for murder, issued by various courts, the PNP said.

Meanwhile, Lee, who was apprehended by elements of PNP Task Force Tugis at the lobby of the Hyatt Hotel in Ermita, Manila last March 6, was one of the high profile fugitives known as the "Big 5."

The list includes retired Army major general Jovito Palparan, former Palawan governor Mario Joel Reyes, Coron mayor Mario Reyes, and Dinagat congressman Ruben Ecleo Jr.

Palparan was arrested by the combined elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Bureau of Investigation last August 12 in Manila.

“Our two instant millionaires deserve every single centavo of the money they received for their courage to provide information that led to the arrest of Delfin Lee and Grayson Naogsan”, Purisima said.

On the reward money for Palparan’s arrest, Purisima said that the reward money will be released immediately once the NHQ Reward Valuation Committee receives and deliberates on the application for reward money from the principal unit that made the arrest.

“We have strict procedures to follow so that the reward money will be released to the rightful claimant”, he said.