19/05/2026
PNP, AFP NAB 3 CTG MEMBERS WANTED FOR MASBATE TEACHER SLAY
The Philippine National Police, under the leadership of PNP Chief PGEN Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., intensified its campaign against terrorism and violent criminality as joint operatives arrested three Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members wanted for murder during successive manhunt operations conducted in Masbate from May 12 to 14, 2026.
Joint operatives from the PNP and AFP, led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) through the CIDG Masbate Provincial Field Unit, conducted sustained intelligence and manhunt operations that led to the arrest of three accused individuals, all male, of legal age, and residents of Barangay Malibas, Palanas, Masbate.
The arrested suspects, identified through their aliases โAbe,โ โRex,โ and โNoy,โ were apprehended by virtue of Warrants of Arrest for Murder issued by a Masbate court on November 20, 2025, with no recommended bail.
Authorities identified the suspects as members of the Communist Terrorist Group operating under Komiteng Larangang Gerilya 1 South and Sub-Regional Committee 4 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee, under the command of alias โKa Manong.โ They were also listed as Regional and Provincial Most Wanted Persons in the Armed Forces of the Philippinesโ monitoring records.
On May 12, 2026, operatives arrested alias โAbeโ in Barangay San Isidro, Cataingan, Masbate, identified as the Number 8 Provincial Most Wanted Person of the Masbate Provincial Police Office.
On May 13, 2026, alias โRex,โ listed as the Number 3 Regional Most Wanted Person of Police Regional Office 5, was apprehended in Barangay Libtong, Cataingan, Masbate.
On May 14, 2026, joint operatives arrested alias โNoyโ in Barangay Nabangig, Palanas, Masbate, tagged as the Number 4 Regional Most Wanted Person of Police Regional Office 5.
Investigation disclosed that on July 9, 2010, in Barangay Malibas, Palanas, Masbate, the accused, together with two other unidentified companions, allegedly conspired and used fi****ms in the fatal shooting of a 27-year-old public school teacher while the victim was on his way home.
โThese CTG members evaded justice for years, but the law eventually caught up with them. The PNP will continue to pursue armed fugitives and terrorist-linked offenders wherever they hide. Hindi kami uurong laban sa mga grupong gumagamit ng dahas at pumapatay ng inosenteng sibilyan,โ said PGEN Nartatez.
โThe killing of a public school teacher is an attack against the community itself. Those who believe they can evade accountability through fear and violence are mistaken. Walang puwang ang terorismo at armadong kriminalidad sa ating lipunan, at mananagot ang lahat ng sangkot,โ he added.
The operation also highlights the continuing implementation of the PNP Focused Agenda, particularly on Enhanced Managing Police Operations through intelligence-driven manhunt operations, inter-unit coordination, and focused enforcement actions.
The arrest of the three CTG members underscores the continuing efforts of law enforcement agencies to dismantle armed threat groups and bring fugitives involved in serious crimes to justice.
As the PNP continues its intensified campaign against terrorism and criminality under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., it continues to assure the public of โBagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong mabilis, tapat, at nararamdaman.โ
(PNP-PIO)