P10-M bounty for Acierto could hasten his arrest — PDEA spox

The spokesperson of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday said the P10 million bounty could hasten the arrest of dismissed police official Eduardo Acierto, who is wanted for a drug smuggling case.

"The reward may be a welcome development to hasten his arrest. PDEA is also tracking down former Director Ismael Fajardo Jr.," Derrick Carreon told reporters.

"Even without the reward, law enforcement agencies are duty-bound to enforce the warrant of arrest," Carreon added.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday confirmed that Malacañang is offering P10 million for any information that could lead to Acierto's arrest.

On Tuesday, Guevarra said he supposes the bounty would come from funds of the Office of the President.

A Manila court has issued a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order against Acierto and seven other individuals who are accused of importing dangerous drugs in connection with the billions of pesos worth of shabu concealed in magnetic lifters seized in 2018.

It was Acierto who claimed that Michael Yang, a former presidential adviser, was involved in the illegal drug trade.

President Rodrigo Duterte has vouched for Yang's innocence. — with Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News