MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to continue its nationwide pursuit of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag after an operation at a poultry farm in Ifugao failed to locate him, renewing attention on one of the country’s most closely watched murder cases involving a journalist.
PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said authorities would continue pursuing every credible lead to locate Bantag, who remains wanted in connection with the October 2022 killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and the death of alleged middleman Cristito “Jun” Villamor Palaña.
The latest operation took place on November 1, 2026, at a poultry farm in Barangay Pugol, Lamut, Ifugao. Police went to the location after receiving intelligence information that Bantag might be hiding there and allegedly posing as a poultry worker.
However, authorities did not find him at the site.
The failed operation prompted renewed calls for the public to cooperate with law enforcement, while also exposing conflicting descriptions of what happened before police arrived.
Lamut Mayor Mariano “Marimar” Buyagawan Jr. suggested in a social media post that Bantag had slipped away from the operation. But the Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PRO-CAR) later clarified that the former corrections chief was not at the identified location when officers conducted the operation.
That distinction matters: police confirmed that no arrest was made, but they disputed the claim that Bantag escaped from the operation.
PNP chief vows to continue the pursuit
In a statement issued on November 2, Nartatez said the PNP would not abandon its efforts to locate and arrest Bantag.
The police chief stressed that the passage of time and unsuccessful operations would not weaken the organization’s determination to enforce outstanding arrest warrants.
He said every credible lead would be pursued and every lawful opportunity would be used to bring wanted individuals before the courts.
Nartatez also described the Ifugao operation as evidence that police were continuing their efforts to locate high-profile fugitives, rather than a reason to stop the manhunt.
The PNP called on the public to provide information that could help authorities locate Bantag and other wanted individuals.
The renewed commitment follows years of unsuccessful efforts to serve the arrest warrant against the former BuCor director general.
What happened during the November 1 Ifugao operation?
Police conducted the operation at a poultry farm in Sitio Alupapan, Barangay Pugol, Lamut, on November 1.
The operation involved personnel from the Ifugao Police Provincial Office and the 1501st Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15.
According to reports, authorities received intelligence information suggesting that Bantag might be staying at the farm and could be posing as a worker.
Lamut Mayor Buyagawan later described the operation in a social media post, claiming Bantag had been hiding at the poultry farm and had allegedly been disguised as a farm worker.
However, the police regional office offered a different clarification.
PRO-CAR said no arrest was made because the subject of the warrant was not present at the identified location when officers arrived. It specifically disputed the description that Bantag had evaded arrest during the operation.
The distinction between the mayor’s account and the police clarification is important. The alleged disguise and the claim that Bantag slipped away were not independently established by the police statement.
What is confirmed is that officers went to the identified location, failed to find Bantag and left without making an arrest.
Why Bantag is wanted by authorities
Bantag is facing murder charges connected to two deaths linked to the October 2022 killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.
Lapid, whose real name was Percival Mabasa, was killed on October 3, 2022, in Las Piñas City.
The broadcaster was known for his radio and online commentary, including criticism of public officials and government institutions.
Investigators subsequently examined the possible involvement of individuals connected to the prison system.
On March 14, 2023, the Department of Justice announced that prosecutors had found probable cause to indict Bantag and several other individuals in connection with Lapid’s killing and the death of alleged middleman Jun Villamor.
Bantag and former BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta were identified in the cases involving the two deaths.
The prosecution’s allegations against Bantag have not been established through a final conviction in these cases. Bantag has denied involvement.
The second death: Jun Villamor
The investigation into Lapid’s killing expanded after the death of Cristito Villamor Palaña, also known as Jun Villamor.
Villamor was identified by investigators as the alleged middleman in the contract killing of Lapid.
He died inside the New Bilibid Prison in October 2022, shortly after the confessed gunman, Joel Escorial, surrendered to authorities and admitted his role in the broadcaster’s killing.
Investigators examined whether Villamor’s death was connected to efforts to prevent the investigation from identifying the people behind the murder.
Prosecutors later approved separate murder charges connected to his death.
The two cases became closely connected because investigators alleged that the same network of individuals was involved in both killings.
The allegations against Bantag remain matters for judicial determination.
P20-million reward and the continuing manhunt
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) previously announced a ₱20-million reward for information that would lead to Bantag’s arrest, according to SunStar’s latest report.
The reward is part of the government’s efforts to encourage the public to provide credible information that could assist law enforcement.
The case has also attracted international attention. In May 2026, the DILG announced that Interpol red notices had been issued against Bantag and other wanted individuals.
An Interpol red notice is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action. It is not itself an international arrest warrant, and decisions on arrest remain subject to the laws of the countries involved.
The notices added an international dimension to the search for Bantag, although the latest Ifugao operation shows that locating him remains a challenge for Philippine authorities.
Why the Percy Lapid case remains significant
The killing of Percy Lapid became one of the most prominent journalist murder cases in the Philippines in recent years.
Lapid was known for commentary on public affairs, government accountability and alleged irregularities involving powerful personalities.
His death renewed concerns about the safety of journalists and the risks faced by media workers who investigate or criticize influential individuals.
The Committee to Protect Journalists and other press freedom organizations have repeatedly highlighted the Philippines’ long-running problem of violence against journalists and the difficulty of securing accountability in cases involving powerful suspects.
Human Rights Watch also noted the importance of a thorough investigation into Lapid’s killing, emphasizing that accountability for attacks against journalists is essential to protecting media freedom.
The case is not only about whether a former corrections official will be arrested. It is also about whether the justice system can bring all those accused in the case before the courts and establish responsibility through a fair legal process.
What other news organizations are reporting
GMA News independently reported that the PNP confirmed the November 1 operation at the poultry farm in Lamut and that Bantag was not found there. Its report also reiterated that Bantag has denied the allegations against him.
The Philippine Star reported the mayor’s account that Bantag was allegedly hiding at the farm and posing as a worker. Its coverage also identified the police units involved in the operation.
ABS-CBN News separately reported PRO-CAR’s clarification that Bantag did not evade arrest because he was not at the identified location when officers arrived.
Daily Tribune also reported the PNP’s renewed commitment to pursue Bantag following the unsuccessful operation.
These reports establish an important distinction in the developing story: the operation took place, no arrest was made, and the police regional office disputed the claim that Bantag had escaped from the site.
The bigger question: Can authorities finally bring Bantag before the courts?
The latest operation in Ifugao has once again placed the Bantag manhunt in the spotlight.
The PNP says it will continue pursuing leads. The DILG’s previously announced reward and the Interpol red notice have added to the government’s efforts to locate the former corrections chief.
But the public still awaits a significant development: Bantag’s arrest and the opportunity for the cases against him to proceed through the courts.
For the families of Percy Lapid and Jun Villamor, the pursuit of accountability remains central to the case.
For journalists and press freedom advocates, the outcome also carries wider significance. Cases involving attacks on media workers must be investigated thoroughly, and everyone accused must be given the opportunity to answer the allegations through due process.
The Ifugao operation ended without an arrest. The PNP says the search will continue—but the real test will be whether authorities can turn their renewed promises into a lawful arrest and a full judicial process.
