Fugitive nabbed after nearly 30 years on the run

BAGUIO CITY — A 57-year-old man listed among the city’s most wanted persons has been arrested after nearly three decades in hiding, police said.

Operatives of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) tracked down and apprehended the suspect in a remote area of San Isidro, Laur, Nueva Ecija, serving a warrant tied to a 1997 murder case.

The arrest was carried out by joint tracker teams led by the BCPO Mobile Patrol Unit, in coordination with multiple intelligence and investigative units, as well as police forces from Benguet and Nueva Ecija provinces.

Authorities said the warrant of arrest was issued by a Baguio City Regional Trial Court, with no bail recommended.

According to police reports, the suspect fled shortly after the killing in 1997 and managed to evade capture by moving across several provinces, including Isabela, Zambales and Nueva Ecija.

Recent intelligence confirmed his presence in Laur, prompting a validation operation that led to his arrest.

The BCPO said the operation underscores the importance of sustained intelligence-sharing and coordination among police units.

“This arrest shows that no matter how much time has passed, the law will eventually catch up,” the office said in a statement, reiterating its directive to intensify manhunt operations.

Police added that efforts will continue to locate and apprehend other wanted individuals as part of ongoing measures to ensure public safety.