MANILA, Philippines — Arresting former Bureau of Corrections director Gerald Bantag and his deputy, Ricardo Zulueta, remains a priority for the Philippine National Police (PNP) even if a Muntinlupa City court has archived the murder case against them.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo gave the assurance yesterday, stressing that tracker teams are working overtime to apprehend the fugitives.
“While it is archived, we are continuing manhunt operations, the entire national police,” she told reporters in a phone interview.
The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 has set aside the case against the two as they have not been arrested.
Fajardo said as a matter of procedure, law enforcement authorities must serve a warrant of arrest to a fugitive within 10 days.
“Since this period lapsed, compliance must be submitted by the PNP and other law enforcement agencies that were given a copy of this warrant of arrest,” she explained.
The court, Fajardo said, will issue an alias warrant against Bantag and Zulueta, which remains valid until they are caught.