Joint operatives on Friday arrested in Lanao del Norte one of the primary suspects in the 2005 killing of a radio broadcaster in Cabuyao City, Laguna.
Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas D. Torre identified the suspect as “Jalal,” who has long been listed as a National Level Most Wanted Person. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had offered a P150,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
The arrest was carried out by members of the CIDG Lanao del Norte Provincial Field Unit, with support from local police and the Philippine Army. Authorities tracked down the suspect to his hiding place in Barangay Poblacion, Sapad, Lanao del Norte.
According to Torre, “Jalal” is wanted for the murder of Robert Ramos, a broadcaster for the Katapat community newspaper in Laguna, who was fatally shot in the head in Cabuyao City in November 2005.
Following the killing, the suspect fled and reportedly moved between locations in Laguna before eventually settling in Lanao del Norte, where he remained in hiding for nearly two decades.
“He was relentlessly pursued and finally captured by the CIDG tracker team,” Torre said. “With this arrest, we bring a step closer to justice for the victim and his family.”
Torre also commended the operatives involved and reaffirmed the CIDG’s commitment to protecting journalists and media workers from violence.
“Let this be a warning to all criminals and fugitives: your free days are numbered. The CIDG will find you—wherever you hide,” he added.
The arrest comes as PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil directed the CIDG to intensify efforts in locating and apprehending the country’s most wanted individuals and other lawbreakers, as part of a broader strategy to improve public safety and crime resolution.