Ex-intel officer wanted for murder, other cases nabbed after almost 2 decades

A former police intelligence officer was arrested after almost two decades for murder and other cases.

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s exclusive report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the suspect completely accepted his fate after the Makati City Police finally caught him after being charged for murder in 2006.

“Nag-match yung kanyang fingerprint nung siya pa si Mr. Arnel Bagise na using now the Niko Garcia. Ako din ay kumbinsido dahil sa mga old pictures niya, sabi nga since hindi naman siya nagpa-retoke, ayun pa rin naman,” said Police Col. Jean Dela Torre, Makati City Police chief.

(His fingerprint as Arnel Bagise matched with those of his current identity as Niko Garcia. I was also convinced that they were the same person based on his old pictures. He did not undergo plastic surgery to change his facial features.)

Dela Torre said authorities had a hard time finding the suspect after he changed his identity. She added that the suspect even applied for late registration of birth certificate.

The suspect is also facing charges for robbery and direct bribery in Manila and for kidnap for ransom in other regions, the report said. But he was still able to leave the country despite his cases.

“Inamin niya rin talaga na patago-tago din siya. Wala siyang permanenteng pinupuntahan,” said Dela Torre.

(He admitted that he’s been hiding anywhere. He was not able to stay for long in one place.)

The suspect admitted that he was a former cop for 14 years before he hid. When asked why he committed the crimes, he replied: “Trabaho lang.” (It was just for work.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News