Interpol eyed in hunting down elusive Binay allies
All necessary measures are being exhausted to locate and arrest two allies of Vice President Jejomar Binay, wanted by a Senate committee conducting a probe into alleged irregularities surrounding the construction of government buildings in Makati City, Malacañang assured on Sunday.
Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is working with the Senate to serve the arrest warrant against Gerardo Limlingan and Eduviges Baloloy.
If verified that the two have fled the country, Coloma said the government could seek assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to track them down.
“Lahat po ng hakbang na kinakailangan ay isasagawa ng pamahalaan para ma-enforce po ang proseso ng batas, kasama na nga po diyan ‘yung sa proceedings ng Senado at ‘yung pag-papasya nila hinggil sa contempt [All necessary measures are being taken by the government to enforce the legal processes that includes the Senate proceedings and its decision to cite them in contempt],” Coloma said.
Limlingan and Baloloy are among the resource persons ordered arrested by the Senate after repeatedly refusing to attend a Congressional investigation on the corruption allegations against the Vice President.
Citing a statement from Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Coloma said Limlingan and Baloloy are presumed to be still in the country.
De Lima, however, has acknowledged that they could have left the country using a chartered aircraft, Coloma added.
“Ganunpaman, dagdag po ni Secretary De Lima, law enforcement authorities may seek the assistance of the International Police Organization para sila ay matunton o hilingin sa Department of Foreign Affairs na ikansela ang kanilang mga pasaporte [Nevertheless, Secretary De Lima said law enforcement authorities may seek the assistance of the International Police Organization to find them or ask the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel their passports],” Coloma said.