PNP finally joins hunt for Napoles, urges caution in making citizen arrest

The Philippine National Police on Friday finally joined the hunt for trader Janet Napoles, after getting a copy of a Makati court's warrant for her arrest.

PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group head Chief Superintendent Francisco Uyami Jr. said tracking teams are out for Napoles, radio dzBB's Tuesday Niu reported.

On Thursday, the PNP's hands were tied as it could not join the hunt for Napoles because it had yet to receive a copy of the arrest order.

Napoles remained at large more than 24 hours after the Department of Justice announced that a warrant has been issued for her arrest.

The Makati court's arrest warrant stemmed from the alleged illegal detention of an eventual whistleblower who linked Napoles to a multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

Earlier reports indicated Napole's brother Reynald Lim is a co-accused in the "illegal detention"
complaint filed by the NBI, and that he is with his sister in hiding.

Caution on citizen arrest

Meanwhile, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac reminded the public to be careful in dealing with Napoles should they encounter her.

Sindac said that while citizens have the right to make arrests, they should leave the actual arrest to the "professional" law enforcers, dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported.

Sindac also said it would be enough for citizens to inform authorities once they spot Napoles.

On Thursday, DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima said: "Actually, puwede ang citizen's arrest sa mga ganyan because this is imbued with deep public interest."

Also on Thursday, Malacañang appealed to the public to help authorities track down Napoles.

"We encourage the public to inform us kung meron silang information tungkol sa whereabouts ni Ms. Napoles," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing in Malacañang, but stopped short of echoing de Lima's call for civilians to apprehend the suspected pork barrel scammer. — LBG, GMA News