08/07/2026
32 YEARS ON THE RUN ENDS AS PNP NABS NATIONAL MOST WANTED WITH DILG REWARD
The Philippine National Police (PNP), under the command of Chief, PNP, Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., arrested a National Most Wanted Person during a manhunt operation on July 2, 2026, in Barangay Baybay Triunfo, Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, ending more than three decades of evasion from justice.
Operatives of the CIDG Misamis Occidental Provincial Field Unit, with the assistance of other PNP operating units, arrested the male suspect, known only by the alias “Pete,” a Filipino of legal age and a resident of Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte. Listed as a National Most Wanted Person with a PhP 80,000.00 DILG monetary reward, he was served two Warrants of Arrest for Murder and Multiple Murder with Frustrated Murder, both issued by a Lanao del Norte court and carrying no bail recommended.
Investigation showed that on August 14, 1993, the accused and a co-accused allegedly opened fire on a residence in Tubod, Lanao del Norte using high-powered fi****ms. The attack claimed the lives of four individuals and left another victim seriously wounded. Authorities said the incident allegedly stemmed from a land dispute.
For more than 32 years, the accused remained in hiding, moving across Davao, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Norte, Marawi, and Misamis Occidental to evade arrest. Persistent intelligence gathering and sustained manhunt operations eventually led authorities to his location and successful arrest.
The accomplishment reflects the PNP Focused Agenda, a transformation framework designed to make police service more responsive, professional, and accountable to the public. It advances the key priority of Enhanced Managing Police Operations by sustaining intelligence-driven manhunt operations that ensure fugitives are brought before the courts, regardless of how long they evade justice.
Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. emphasized that the arrest underscores the PNP’s determination to pursue wanted persons without letup.
“No matter how much time has passed, the PNP will continue to track down fugitives and ensure that they answer for the crimes they are accused of before our courts,” he said.
He also reaffirmed the PNP’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.
“Hindi kami titigil hangga’t hindi nahaharap sa batas ang mga umiiwas sa hustisya,” the PNP Chief added.
As the PNP intensifies its campaign against wanted persons and strengthens law enforcement efforts under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., it continues to assure the public of “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong mabilis, tapat, at nararamdaman.”
(PNP-PIO)
