Killer of former Kalinga mayor in 1980 arrested in Tabuk

Tabuk City, Kalinga – After 41 years of evading authorities, suspect for killing and ambushing two former mayors in the province was arrested by the operatives this January 28 in Sitio Binongsay, Malin-awa.

Jaime Bulatao is a regional most wanted person for multiple frustrated murder and included in the list of national most wanted for murder. Additionally, the Department of Interior and Local Government offered P75,000 reward for his arrest in 2002.

Bulatao was first charged with murder after he was identified as suspect in the killing of former Mayor Alexander Alngag of Tinglayan in 1980. According to Kalinga Police Provincial Director PCol. Davy Vicente Limmong, the case was tried to be settled through Bodong, but it was later pursued to court.

In 2008, the same person was accused for ambushing the then Rizal Mayor Marcelo Dela Cruz while on his way to Rizal from Tabuk City.

The mayor along with police officers who were with him that time fortunately survived the incident and a case of Multiple Frustrated Murder was filed against the suspect.

Meantime, Limmong said that the arrest of the suspect took long because he was armed and was dangerous.

“Haan nga naalala idi ta considered gamin idi nga armed and dangerous idi. So very cautious ti panag approach ken adu iti mabuteng nga mangsubaybay … ngem at least uray kasatnu iti kabayag na, naala latta isuna,” he said.

The police provincial director added that when they finally learned that he is just in Tabuk, they immediately prepared the implementation of his warrant. Taking all possibilities, he said, they involved special units in their operation, SAF, and RFMB.

With the help of the community, the warrants of arrest were peacefully implemented by the police against the suspect.

“We were able to implement it peacefully without any violent resistance on the part of the suspect or their relatives or their neighbors,” he said.

The suspect was brought to Kalinga Police Provincial Office for documentation before his turn over to the court.