Cops arrest Lanao del Sur town vice mayor in most wanted list
Police arrested an incumbent vice mayor of a town in Lanao del Sur in a follow-up operation conducted a month after a local court issued arrest warrants for a separate case of murder and frustrated murder.
Gen. Jose Melenio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Vice Mayor Ali Eskandar Alonto III was placed under custody after the arrest warrant was served when police tracked down his location in a hotel in Iligan City on Friday night, August 21.
“There is no holiday break for the PNP. Every second of any day is deemed important and taken as an opportunity in the interest of justice, peace and order and the rule of law,” said Nartatez.
“I commend all the personnel involved in this operation for exemplifying what the PNP truly means in this case,” he added.
After the issuance of arrest warrant last month, Alonto became number one in the most wanted list in his hometown in Marantao, Lanao del Sur; number three in the provincial level wanted list, and number 4 in the regional wanted list of Northern Mindanao.
The case of murder is a non-bailable offense while the court set a P200,000 bail for the frustrated murder case.
Nartatez said the successful operation is proof once again of the commitment of the PNP to run after wanted persons, “Such a move boosts the public’s trust and confidence in the PNP.”
Alonto is expected to undergo booking procedures and will be presented to the court that issued the arrest warrant.