(CNN Philippines) — Alleged illegal recruiters Ma. Christina Sergio (also known as Mary Christine Gulles Pasadilla) and her live-in partner Julius Lacanilao, who supposedly duped convicted drug mule Mary Jane Veloso into smuggling drugs to Indonesia in 2010, are now wanted for charges of large-scale illegal recruitment.
A Nueva Ecija court on Thursday (May 14) issued a warrant of arrest for the two, who are currently under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The warrant, which is temporarily set with no bail, was ordered and signed by Judge Nelson Tribiana.
Sergio and Lacanilao surrendered themselves to authorities in Nueva Ecjia on April 28 before they were detained by the NBI on May 5. There, they underwent inquest proceedings on the alleged illegal recruitment of Veloso.
Related: Mary Jane Veloso’s recruiter surrenders
Recent investigations revealed that other alleged victims of Sergio have willingly offered their written testimonies to strengthen the case against her and Lacanilao.
Related: NBI tracing another alleged victim of Sergio
Related: DOJ bares Sergio’s ‘tell-all’ statement to NBI
In an exclusive interview with CNN Philippines on May 6, Veloso’s mother, Celia, also revealed that Sergio advised them not to seek assistance from the media or the government when they found out that she was arrested in Indonesia in 2010.
Veloso was arrested at the Yogyakarta Airport when she was caught with 2.6 kilos of heroin in her luggage. She was supposed to face the firing squad on April 29, but was given a last-minute stay of execution.
Related: Veloso’s execution suspended
