Authorities arrested a 22-year-old man accused of killing a senior education official in Sulu during a manhunt operation in Parang town on July 12.
The suspect, identified by the alias “Ning,” was apprehended at around 6:55 a.m. in Barangay Guimba Lagasan by operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and several police and military units.
He was arrested on the strength of a warrant issued by a court in Jolo on March 2, 2026, for murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code. No bail was recommended.
The CIDG said the suspect, a married resident of Parang, ranked eighth on Police Regional Office 9’s list of regional most wanted persons.
He is accused of killing a female assistant schools division superintendent of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education, formerly the Department of Education in Sulu.
Authorities said the victim was inside the DepEd compound along Bonifacio Street in Barangay San Raymundo, Jolo, at around 5 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2025, when the suspect allegedly shot her several times.
She sustained gunshot wounds to the face and back and died at the scene.
The operation was carried out by the CIDG Sulu Provincial Field Unit with personnel from the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion, the PNP Special Action Force’s 54th Special Action Company, the Sulu Provincial Intelligence Team, Regional Intelligence Unit 9, the Sulu Police Provincial Office, and the Jolo Municipal Police Station.
CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert AA Morico II commended the participating units for the coordinated, intelligence-driven operation.
The CIDG said the arrest reflected its continuing campaign to track down wanted persons and help victims and their families obtain justice.