POLICE have arrested an alleged suspect in the 2023 Isulan bus terminal bombing.
In a statement, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the 45-year-old male suspect, known by the aliases “Tarzan/Tarsan,” was arrested on August 21, 2026, in Barangay Udtong, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat.
The suspect was among the national most wanted persons with a P145,000 bounty.
He was linked to the April 17, 2023, bombing at the Isulan Integrated Public Terminal in Barangay Kalawag 2, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, which injured several individuals, including three minors aged 15, 14, and 13, and other victims aged 56, 60, 25, and 57.
The arrested individual was also tagged in the killing of a 60-year-old BPAT member in Lambayong on July 17, 2021, and the killing of a 41-year-old BPAT member in the same municipality on April 7, 2021.
Police said the suspect resisted arrest, engaging operatives in a gunfight which resulted in his injury after he sustained a gunshot wound to the knee.
Recovered from his possession was one Norinco caliber 9mm pistol, with its chamber loaded and one magazine containing three live ammunition, along with three fired cartridge casings believed to be from a caliber 9mm firearm.
“Acts of terrorism and murder strike at the very foundation of public safety and human life. Those who stand accused of such grave offenses cannot expect to remain beyond the reach of the law—the PNP will find them, arrest them, and bring them before the courts,” PNP chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.
“Ang terorismo at pagkitil ng buhay ay kabilang sa pinakamabibigat at pinakamapanganib na krimen. Walang lugar sa lipunan ang mga taong sangkot sa ganitong karumal-dumal na gawain—sisiguraduhin nating haharap sila sa batas at mananagot sa kanilang mga ginawa,” he added.
Meanwhile, the PNP also announced the arrest of three high-ranking wanted persons in separate operations in General Santos City, Oriental Mindoro, and Rizal from August 20 to 21, 2026, including the No. 1 Most Wanted Person in Police Regional Office 4A.
In General Santos City, police arrested the No. 10 Most Wanted Person of Police Regional Office 12 on August 20 by virtue of a warrant of arrest for two counts of statutory rape.
Joint personnel of the Gloria Municipal Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Unit, and 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company arrested a No. 9 Most Wanted Person of PRO Mimaropa in Gloria, Oriental Mindoro.
In Binangonan, Rizal, personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Northern District Field Unit arrested the No. 1 Most Wanted Person of PRO Calabarzon on August 21. The suspect is an identified high-value drug personality. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)