P500-M reward fund for criminals eyed

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. sought yesterday the creation of a P500-million reward fund for the capture of terrorists, kidnappers, drug traffickers and coup plotters.

He made the proposal during a courtesy call by Philippine National Police officials led by Director General Leandro Mendoza.

"This will augment President Arroyo’s initial (P100-million) reward program centered on the campaign to eliminate the Abu Sayyaf menace in Mindanao," De Venecia said.

Presumably, the proposed huge reward fund would be part of the PNP budget, which has already come under fire from at least one Lakas congressman, Joey Salceda of Albay, because it has been increased substantially.

De Venecia said the House would have to realign some items in President Arroyo’s P781-billion 2002 budget proposal to raise money for the reward outlay.

"We are investing in our future to neutralize the threats of terrorism and criminality. What is P500 million if we can ultimately gain the confidence of international investors who could pour billions of pesos into the economy?" he said.

PNP officials welcomed the Speaker’s suggestion, saying it would help them greatly in fighting criminality and coup plots.

It is not known how much, if any, of the P100-million Abu Sayyaf reward fund has been disbursed and to whom.

The President has announced that as much as P5 million would be paid for the capture, dead or alive, of an Abu Sayyaf leader, and P1 million for each member of the extremist group.

Despite the huge cash incentive, the group of kidnappers and bandits led by the elusive Abu Sabaya is largely intact.

A Basilan-based Catholic priest, Cirilo Nacorda, has accused some military officers of letting Sabaya and his group escape whenever they are cornered by government forces.