Two of the three Sunwest Construction and Development officials wanted over the alleged anomalous flood control projects have reportedly sent surrender feelers, the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said on Monday.
In a December 1 press conference, PNP-CIDG Acting Director Police Major General Robert Alexander Morico II confirmed that the manhunt continues despite indications from two of the suspects that they intend to surrender.
“Sa tatlo ongoing ang manhunt operations although two of them are sending surrender feelers,” he said.
Morico added that the fugitives held high company positions but were considered dummies.
“We must understand na ‘yong tatlong hinahanap sa local ay mataas ang posisyon nila sa company na iyon but dummy lang so basically they do not have the money and capacity to pay for a lawyer.”
He said the families of two officials had reached out to authorities.
“May back channel po sa amin, siyempre wala silang personal na abogado and apparently parang napabayaan so they are afraid also. I think ‘yong credibility ng CIDG is well established na igagalang namin ang karapatan nila that’s why certain kamag-anak ang nagpadala ng ano na they are willing [to surrender] in time.”
Morico emphasized, however, that CIDG cannot wait further for the suspects to come forward, as arrest warrants have already been served. The officials were not identified.
Authorities previously attempted to serve warrants on Consuelo Dayto Adon, Anthony Li Ngo, and Noel Yap Cao—all board members of Sunwest—at a hotel in Pasay, in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).