NBI hunts down executed Pinay's recruiter

MANILA (Updated 11:32 a.m.) -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now hunting down the alleged recruiter of Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, who was executed in China Wednesday.

In a radio interview Thursday, NBI Deputy Director for Intelligence Services Ruel Lasala said they have strong and clear evidence against Mapet Cortez, alias Tita Cacayan.

Lasala also said their information shows Cortez is in Isabela province.

He added Cortez could be hiding because she fears reprisal from other victims.

Cortez has not been located for two weeks now.

Villanueva, in her affidavit, named Cortez as the source of the drugs she carried to China. She said Cortez recruited her for a job in Xiamen and provided her with an empty suitcase that she used for her travel to China.

Villanueva also said she was not aware that the suitcase contained 4,000 grams of heroin and that Cortez "knowingly tricked" her into smuggling the illegal drugs.

Lasala said charges on illegal recruitment, human trafficking and kidnapping charges were already filed against Cortez at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

A preliminary investigation by the DOJ is also ongoing.

Villanueva, Ramon Credo were executed in Xiamen in China while and Elizabeth Batain was executed in Shenzhen for drug trafficking on Wednesday.

Villanueva was convicted for smuggling 4,110 grams of heroin on December 24, 2008 in Xiamen, while Credo was convicted for smuggling 4,113 grams of heroin on December 28, 2008 in the same city. Batain was convicted for smuggling 6,800 grams of heroin on May 24, 2008 in Shenzen.

Meanwhile, the government vowed Wednesday to create more jobs for its citizens after the execution of three Filipino drug mules who entered China to escape widespread poverty and unemployment at home.

President Benigno Aquino III said the three drug convicts are "victims of a society that could not provide for them enough gainful employment in their home country."

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the government will exert more efforts to break the illegal activities of drug pushers, which "entrap people and destroy lives."

"We are resolved to ensure that the chain of victimization, as pushers entrap and destroy lives in pursuit of their trade, will be broken," said Lacierda in a statement read by deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte. (Sunnex)