MANILA, Philippines?The US Embassy has confirmed that Jason Ivler, who was earlier charged with the death of a Malacañang official?s son, is an American citizen.

However, it did not say if he served in the US Army as his mother claimed.

Chief Insp. Benjamin Elenzano of the Quezon City Police District?s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit said that according to a letter from Bradley G. Wilde, Ivler has not communicated with the embassy since 2004.

Wilde is the chief of the citizenship and passport office of the US Embassy.

Wilde also said that the embassy did not know that Ivler was in the country until they read in the newspapers about his alleged involvement in the shooting of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., son of presidential chief of staff Renato Ebarle Sr.

?The letter did not mention anything about Ivler?s occupation,? Elenzano said.

The police official, who is leading the investigation of the case, added that efforts were ongoing to arrest Ivler, who went into hiding right after the shooting.

?He is really elusive despite the fact that all branches of law enforcement agencies are out to get him,? Elenzano said.

Elenzano said they had received information that Ivler, who uses a motorcycle to get around and travels by himself, never stays in one place for more than 20 minutes.

The National Bureau of Investigation, Highway Patrol Group and Criminal Investigation and Detective Group have joined the search for Ivler, who carries a cash reward of P500,000 for his arrest.

Ebarle Jr. was shot to death with a .45 cal. pistol after his Toyota Land Cruiser almost collided with the Honda CRV being driven by Ivler at the corner of Boni Serrano and Granada Streets in Quezon City on Nov. 18.

The night before the victim was shot, another motorist, Manolito Cuya, 47, told the police that Ivler had pointed a gun at him during a traffic altercation.

Ivler also has an outstanding warrant of arrest for the death of Nestor Ponce, a Malacañang undersecretary, in a vehicular accident in 2004.