(UPDATED) MANILA, Philippines – Why hasn’t the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) tracked down the Napoleses?

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is convinced Janet Lim-Napoles’ camp was tipped off about the warrant of arrest for her.

On Wednesday, August 14, the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) ordered the arrest of Napoles and her brother Reynald “Jojo” Lim for whistleblower Benhur Luy’s illegal detention, a non-bailable offense.

The two are also allegedly part of a massive, multi-million pork barrel scam which siphoned lawmakers’ Priority Development and Assistance Funds (PDAF) for ghost projects.

But over 12 hours since the warrants were issued, the NBI has yet to find the two.

De Lima said she received reports that Napoles’ lawyers were at the RTC even before the warrant of arrest was issued, suggesting they had learned about it early on.

“Someone tipped [them] because her lawyers were there first, waiting at the RTC, that’s the report now. That’s the reason why. Last night, as soon as the NBI team was able to get hold of the copies of the warrant of arrest, they immediately proceeded to the known addresses of the Napoleses…but they were all negative,” she told reporters on Thursday, August 15.

De Lima said she was not surprised Napoles, whom she referred to as a “high-profile fugitive,” could not be found.

Probers investigated accusations by Benhur’s parents (Arturo and Gertrudes Luy) and siblings (Arthur and Annabelle) that Benhur was detained by Napoles from December 2012 up to March 22, 2013, when he was rescued by NBI agents. He was rescued at the condominium unit of Napoles at the Pacific Plaza in Taguig.

Well-connected

“It’s not surprising because the fact that she was not seen after the warrant of arrest was issued, it means she got advance info. Anyway isn’t she well-connected? Didn’t she brag she controls the government?” De Lima asked. “So I’m not surprised anymore that she was tipped off. Maybe even before the DOJ started its investigation she already knew about it, what more the warrant of arrest?”

She also slammed criticism that she prematurely told the media about it before investigators tracked down Napoles, since her camp had clearly known about it beforehand.

De Lima said they would look into how the information got to Napoles, and emphasized charges would be filed against those who are protecting her.

Because the NBI has yet to find Napoles and her brother, De Lima said they have increased from 4 to 12 the number of teams directed “to conduct a manhunt.” She added that “regional and field offices have been alerted” as well.

After a meeting with NBI investigators in the afternoon for the latest updates on the manhunt, De Lima also released a list of 30 vehicles probers believe belong to Napoles and could be “used now in mobility while escaping the warrants of arrest.”

She urged the public to help the NBI with any leads or tips they may have on her location, and said a citizen’s arrest is possible given the massive public interest surrounding the case. 

PDAF probe continues

The Justice Secretary also gave assurances the Napoleses’ disappearance will not affect the pork barrel probe.

She warned that if Napoles chooses not to surface, she may lose her right to defend herself.

“The NBI investigation with or without her participation continues. If she continues to be in hiding and continues to be a fugitive then she is deemed to have waived her right to air her side. This (pork barrel probe) is just on investigation level, this is not yet a preliminary investigation,” she said.

De Lima added they can argue against the court decision, and are merely being “invited” to give their side.

“They have remedies. But what we have is a warrant of arrest and therefore that should be implemented. For as long as the warrant of arrest is there, that stays,” she said.

Motives

Napoles’ lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, meanwhile questioned De Lima’s motives.

“We have legal options. Of course, I will advise her to surrender but will you believe in the justice system, especially if it is engineered by the Secretary of Justice based on information?” she told Rappler in a phone interview.

She also admitted to getting advanced information, but the reports she got identified De Lima as being behind the arrest warrant.

“Just yesterday we heard that there were meetings going on until midnight to early morning. There were instructions supposedly from Secretary De Lima to release the reversal and that it should be filed immediately,” Kapunan said.

De Lima denied the accusations, saying she had “nothing to do” with the arrest, and that it was the Makati RTC that found the case to have probable cause.

According to De Lima, the instruction to the NBI is “no let-up.” – Rappler.com