The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) - Cordillera failed to arrest former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Gerald Bantag during its operation in Baguio City. 

The NBI went to the headquarters of the Igorot Warriors International (IWI) at Mines View Park to serve the arrest warrant on Bantag but did not find him there. 

Instead, what they found was his large portrait and t-shirts reportedly belonging to him. 

According to the NBI, they received information suggesting that Bantag frequents the IWI headquarters every weekend, prompting them to carry the operation out.

The reportedly caretaker said he rarely sees Bantag at the office. 

This was corroborated by Antero Buswilan Jr., barangay chairman of Mines View, who said that Bantag had not returned to the office since 2023 and has been unreachable.

“Nagrerenta lang [siya] diyan, at noong isang taon pa nagpunta si Bantag diyan,” Buswilan said.

Bantag was ordered arrested by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court in connection with the death of Jun Villamor who was allegedly involved in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid. 

Bantag, along with Rircardo Zulueta, the former BuCor deputy officer, faces charges of murder, which are non-bailable. 

The Department of Justice indicted them for two counts of murder related to the deaths of Lapid and Villamor.