Two officers of Legacy Group of Company who are facing warrant of arrest with no bail for reported syndicated estafa in connection with the Legacy pre-needs controversy remain in the custody of the Senate, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said.

Last week, Bicol town mayor Celso delos Angeles was placed under technical arrest by police while confined at a hospital in Quezon City for syndicated estafa regarding Legacy controversy.

On the other hand, two Legacy officers were earlier placed in the custody of the Senate even before the issuance of warrant of arrest against them.

The NBI said that it would not take in its custody two officers of Legacy identified as Carolina Hinola and Namnama Pacetes-Santos, since they were already under the Senate custody. Reports said two would be utilized as witnesses regarding the controversy.

Head Agent Roland Argabioso, chief of the NBI - Field Operations Division (FOD), said Hinola and Santos have outstanding warrants of arrest issued by Judge Sulayman G. Macato-on, of Cagayan de Oro Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 24 and Judge Joefre Acebido, of Cagayan de Oro Branch 41.

Argabioso clarified that the NBI did not serve the warrants of arrest last Tuesday as the bureau has to honor the protocol of the Senate which are taking custody Hinola and Santos in connection with the Legacy controversy.

He, however, said the NBI informed the senate that the two Legacy officers have outstanding of arrest for syndicated estafa with no bail.

“There is protocol in the Senate.

So we (NBI) have to honor the protocol but we still served the communication (Letter), informing the Senate about the warrants of arrest on the two Legacy Officers. We served the communication in the offices of the Senate President Jose Ponce Enrile, Senator Mar Roxas and Senate Sgt. of Arms Jose Balajadia,” said Argabioso.

Argabioso said the NBI has to make a partial return of warrant to the courts as the law enforcement agencies are still hunting four other accused who have also warrants of arrests.

The NBI and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are now on the lookout for four Legacy Group of Company officers.

This developed after regional trial courts (RTCs) in Cagayan de Oro issued warrants of arrest for Delos Angeles and six Legacy officers for syndicated estafa.

The names of the four Legacy officers were not disclosed by law enforcement agencies and they are now the subject of manhunt after the issuance of warrants of arrest for them. No bail was recommended for their arrest.

Operatives of the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have already served the warrant of arrest on Bicol town Mayor Celso de los Angeles Jr. while he was confined at the St. Luke’s Hospital recently.

The Sto. Domingo (Albay) town mayor remains at the hospital but technically he is under arrest as he is facing non-bailable charge.

The criminal cases stemmed from complaints of the investors in Cagayan De Oro City.

Investigating prosecutors said respondents “falsely pretended to possess power, business etc., when in fact they are not, to defraud investors,” which is punishable under Art. 315 of Revised Penal Code.

Legacy’s pre-need firms, which have some 50,000 plan-holders, have also ceased operations.