Duterte raises R1- M bounty for capture of Enzo’s killer

DAVAO CITY — Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has handed 1 million to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) as reward money that could expedite the arrest of the persons responsible for the murder of race car champion Enzo Pastor.

In his regular TV program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” Sunday, Duterte said the 1 million was part of the

5-million fund that was culled by the private sector here that was intended as bounty for the arrest of carnapping syndicate leader Ryan “Baktin” Yu.

But since Baktin voluntarily surrendered to authorities, the P5-million reward money went untouched.

Duterte was recently irked by a statement in social media that the reward money for Enzo’s killers were “taken from the coffers of the government”.

“This money was really intended for ‘Baktin’ and was raised by the private sector especially those who were victimized by his carnapping syndicate,” Duterte clarified.

In 2012, when Duterte was still the Vice Mayor here, he launched an all- out campaign for the arrest of “Baktin.”

He had said that enraged victims of Baktin voluntarily contributed to the bounty.

In an audacious statement, Duterte offered 1 million to any one who could point to the whereabouts of Baktin, 2 million if the fugitive was brought to him dead and 3 million for any one who could bring Baktin’s head to him in a cooler filled with ice.

The third offer got the ire of Commission on Human Rights ( CHR) chairperson Etta Rosales that sparked a series of arguments between her and Duterte.

“The reward for Baktin was not materialize,” Duterte stressed, adding that some of these were already utilized for peace and order campaign purposes.

“The government had nothing to do with this money. This was raised by private persons,” he said.

Duterte criticized the unidentified person who posted in social media the allegation that public funds were used for the reward money.

“I am certain that the father of this man is a thief,” Duterte described his unnamed critic.

Though Duterte did not specifically name this critic in social media, some sectors have hinted that the person must be one of his political rivals in Davao City.