Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Tuesday, March 17, announced that the driver-suspect in the fatal shooting of retired police officer George Capistrano has surrendered, hours after the mayor issued a 48-hour ultimatum and P500,000 reward offer, as authorities continue a manhunt for the alleged gunman.

Speaking during a Facebook Live broadcast of “Talk to the People,” Domagoso identified the suspect as Liegem Bulalacao Young, also known as “Biboy,” who voluntarily surrendered with the assistance of a barangay official after being urged by authorities.

The mayor said the Manila Police District (MPD) achieved a breakthrough following sustained follow-up operations and intelligence gathering, aided by information from an informant that helped confirm the suspect’s whereabouts. 

“Ngayon, as you can see, meron na po tayong development. Sumuko na po ‘yung isa sa mga suspect at nagbibigay na siya ng mahalagang impormasyon para matukoy ang iba pang sangkot sa krimen (As you can see, we now have a development.

“We are halfway of giving justice to the victims, at sisikapin naming mahanap pa ang iba pang miyembro ng grupong ito para tuluyan nang maresolba ang kaso,” he added (We are halfway to delivering justice to the victims, and we will strive to find the other members of this group to fully resolve the case)."

The suspect admitted his role as the motorcycle driver during the incident but claimed that his cohort, identified as Albert Magdaraog, was the one who shot Capistrano.

“Driver lang naman po ako. Wala naman po akong alam na papatayin niya, eh. Pagbaba niya, binaril niya agad, siya lang po ‘yung may dala (I was only the driver. I had no knowledge that he would kill anyone. When he got off, he immediately shot the victim; he was the only one carrying a gun),” the suspect said. 

He also admitted that he initially had no intention of surrendering, citing a previous negative experience with police in Quezon City, but later decided to come forward.

Authorities believe the suspects may be part of a roaming robbery-holdup group operating across Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

“Doon sa Albert Magdaraog at sa iba pang kasama niya—lapit ka na, lapit ka nang mahuli—dahil tuloy-tuloy ang aming operasyon para kayo ay mapanagot sa batas (To Albert Magdaraog and his companions—your arrest is near, because our operations will continue until you are held accountable under the law),” Domagoso said. 

“Rest assured, we will not stop. Kung ginawa niyo ito sa Maynila, hahalughugin namin ang buong bansa (Rest assured, we will not stop. If you did this in Manila, we will scour the entire country),” he added. 

Capistrano, 56, a retired police officer, was shot at around midnight on March 15 along Salonga Street, corner Buendia Street in Barangay 134, Balut, Tondo.

Authorities said follow-up operations are ongoing to track down the gunman and other possible accomplices, vowing that all those involved will be held accountable.