(UPDATED)Has Janet Napoles sailed to her freedom?
Authorities said they fear the alleged brains behind P10 billion pork barrel scam managed to slip out of the country by sea.
In an interview with DZMM, Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer-in-charge Siegfried Mison said they received information that 3 yachts owned by Napoles docked at the Manila Yacht Club are missing.
"Ang pagkasabi po ng kapwa naming intelligence agency - may 3 yate na maaari pong nasa pag-aari o ginagamit po ni Mrs. Napoles ang hindi na po nila makita o ma-trace sa kanilang dapat na lugar," Mison said.
Mison said Napoles might have been aboard any of the yachts and sailed to neighboring countries.
He stressed that they are still verifying the information.
Mison said they are coordinating with authorities in Malaysia, Indonesia and other neighboring countries about the possible attempt by Napoles to sail to their territories in a bid to elude Philippine authorities.
Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, however, said that they are still in the Philippines.
In a report by ABS-CBN’s Willard Cheng, De Lima told the reporters that there are no indications that Napoles and her brother have left the country.
Reports that Napoles' allegedly owned yachts are missing appear to be untrue, De Lima said.
A nationwide manhunt is ongoing for the two fugitives as a warrant of arrest has been issued against Napoles and her brother Reynald Lim for the serious illegal detention of Benhur Luy, the key whistleblower in the pork barrel scam.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had said Napoles might still be in the country and that she was being guarded by armed men.
The passports of Napoles and her brother have been cancelled by the Foreign Affairs Department.
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