Huli sana, kaso wala sa eksena? ‘No sign of Bantag during Lamut arrest operation’ – PRO CAR

LAMUT, Ifugao – The Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO CAR) clarified that former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag did not evade arrest during a police operation in Lamut, Ifugao, on All Saints’ Day, as he was not at the location when operatives arrived to serve his arrest warrant.

In a statement released on November 1, 2026, PRO CAR disputed earlier claims that Bantag had eluded arrest during an operation conducted in the municipality at around 5 a.m. on Sunday.

According to the regional police office, operatives proceeded to Sitio Alupapan in Barangay Pugol, Lamut, to implement the warrant of arrest against Bantag. However, no arrest was made because he was not present at the identified location.

“PRO CAR clarifies that no arrest was made because the subject was not present at the identified location when police personnel conducted the operation. Thus, the claim that the subject eluded arrest is not true,” the regional police office said.

PRO CAR reiterated its commitment to intensifying manhunt operations against wanted individuals. It also urged the public to report any information that could lead to the arrest of fugitives to the nearest police station or appropriate authorities.

Bantag was declared a fugitive by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on April 17, 2023, following the issuance of arrest warrants against him in connection with the killings of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and New Bilibid Prison inmate Cristito “Jun” Villamor.

In June 2023, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) offered a ₱2-million reward for information that would lead to Bantag’s arrest.