(UPDATED WITH CORRECTIONS)
A murder suspect, ranked fifth on the wanted list, who had been in hiding for 18 years, was arrested by the police in Anda, Bohol, at 5:20 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
The accused, identified as alias "Tar," 37 years old, is a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Bacong, Anda, Bohol.
The Anda Municipal Police Station held a copy of the arrest warrant for alias "Tar," which was issued by Judge Jorge Espinal, the Presiding Judge of the 7th Judicial Regional, RTC Branch 51 in Carmen, for a murder case with no bail granted.
According to Anda Municipal Police Chief, Police Major Justine Hinlayagan, the suspect had been hiding from the law ever since the crime was committed on December 3, 2007.
The suspect and another person were both accused of killing their childhood friend, but the other accomplice was immediately arrested and sentenced for the crime, while alias "Tar" fled to Luzon.
Hinlayagan added that alias "Tar" admitted to moving around Luzon, where he worked as a tricycle driver and also took up construction work.
In the last week of December 2024, they received information from barangay officials that the suspect had returned to his home in Barangay Bacong, prompting them to monitor his activities.
They coordinated with the court handling the case, and on March 12, 2025, at 5:20 p.m., the warrant was served.
"Ang biktima ani nila ila ra sab nga silingan ilang kababata nga duha sila kabuok, ang usa karon wala pa kagawas kay serve sentence kay murder man, ang pagka hitabo insakto pa ang iyang edad 18 anyos ang iyang pangidaron sa pag himo sa krimen, nisibat dayon siya sa Luzon region kay nag tago-tago man ni siya didto sa Batangas, Las Penas, Caloocan basta upat to ka probinsya iyang gitago-tagoan," Hinlayagan said.
(The victim was also their neighbor, a childhood friend, and there were two of them. One is still serving his sentence for murder. The suspect, who was only 18 years old when the crime was committed, fled to Luzon, hiding in four provinces, including Batangas, Las Pinas, and Caloocan.)
However, when the Anda police conducted surveillance, they found that the suspect was staying at his house, and they were able to serve the arrest warrant, leading to his capture.
In connection with this, Police Colonel Arnel Banzon, the Provincial Police Chief of Bohol, praised the officers involved in the long-awaited arrest of the wanted person.
“Kini nga pagdakop sa nagpamatuod sa walay paglubad nga paningkamot sa atung kapulisan sa pagdala sa hustisya. Dako ang among pasalamat sa Anda MPS ug sa tibuok team nga naningkamot nga malampuson kining operasyon. Usa kini ka pahimangno sa tanang nag likay sa balaod, dili kamo maka likay hangtod nga makab-ot ang hustisya,” Banzon said.
(This arrest is proof of the unwavering effort of our police force in seeking justice. We are very thankful to the Anda MPS and the entire team who made this operation successful. This serves as a warning to those who avoid the law, you cannot escape justice.)
Banzon further emphasized that the arrest of the wanted person demonstrated their dedication to achieving justice for peace and order throughout the province of Bohol. (AYB)
Editor's note: The correct lead states that the suspect had been in hiding from authorities for 18 years, not that he is an 18-year-old.