MANILA, Philippines – For turning over information that eventually led to the arrest of most wanted criminals, 2 informants received a total of P5.2 million ($119,010) in cash from the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday, August 18.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima hoped the awarding of the bounty would encourage other informants to step forward.

“Report to us through Twitter, text, email, or other means the location of these fugitives so that we can arrest them. It pays to help in making our communities safe,” Purisima said in a statement.

The PNP said the P2 million was awarded for information leading to the arrest of Delfin Lee, the Globe Asiatique owner who defrauded government and home buyers of about P6 billion. Lee was among the PNP’s top 5 most wanted and was arrested in March this year by the PNP’s Task Force Tugis.

With Lee’s arrest, 3 more remain on the Task Force’s priority list – former Palawan Governor Mario Joel Reyes, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, and Dinagat congressman RubenEcleo Jr.

Another most wanted man, retired general Jovito Palparan, was arrested by members of the Armed Forces and the National Bureau of Investigation on August 12.

Another P3.2 million, meanwhile, was given to the informant who gave information that led to the arrest of Grayson Magranga Naogsan, an alleged New People’s Army (NPA) leader.

Naogsan was arrested in Baguio in 2012 for his alleged involvement in the ambush of government troops. The PNP said Naogsan’s actions resulted in the death of 23 soldiers and members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit and a barangay official. 

The PNP said the money came from the PNP Confidential Intelligence Fund.

“Our 2 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,” said Purisima.

The prize money for Palparan’s arrest, said Purisima, would be released as soon as the PNP’s Reward Valuation Committee approves the application for reward money. – Rappler.com

*US$1 = P43.69