ILOILO City – Western Visayas’ most wanted fugitive who evaded arrest for nearly four decades while facing charges of arson, multiple murder, and frustrated murder was finally captured in Occidental Mindoro and brought back to Antique to face justice.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Elly,” 63, was arrested on Monday at Sitio Barrio Site, Barangay San Agustin, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, ending a 38-year manhunt that authorities described as one of the region’s longest-running pursuits of a wanted person.
Police said the arrest was carried out by virtue of warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court, Branch 13, in Culasi, Antique, dated April 3, 2025.
The court recommended no bail for the charges of arson and multiple murder. Bail was set at P200,000 each for the two counts of frustrated murder.
According to investigators, the cases stemmed from an incident that allegedly occurred in Caluya, Antique in 1988 when the suspect was 25 years old.
Following the incident, the suspect reportedly fled Antique and settled in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, where he managed to evade authorities for decades.
Police recently received information regarding his whereabouts, prompting a coordinated operation that led to his arrest.
The operation was conducted by personnel of the Caluya Municipal Police Station, San Jose Municipal Police Station in Occidental Mindoro, and the 2nd Antique Provincial Mobile Force Company.
The suspect is currently detained at the Caluya Municipal Police Station and is set to be turned over to the court that issued the warrants.
Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), commended the operating units for the successful arrest.
“This arrest demonstrates our firm resolve to bring wanted persons before the court to face the charges against them. The arrest of the region’s No. 1 wanted person, who remained in hiding for 38 years, sends a clear message that no one can hide from the law,” Tuaño said.
He stressed that the breakthrough was the result of strong inter-agency coordination, intelligence-driven operations, and support from the community.
“Through sustained coordination and dedication of our personnel, we will continue to intensify our manhunt operations to ensure that persons with warrants are held accountable through due process,” he added.
The arrest marks a significant accomplishment for PRO-6’s campaign against wanted persons and underscores law enforcement’s commitment to pursuing fugitives regardless of how long they have remained in hiding./PN
