MANILA, Philippines—The long arm of the law has finally caught up with a 70-year-old man who went into hiding after he was found guilty of attempting to kill a former Manila barangay chair in 1999.

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation recently arrested George Gonzales, a resident of Paco, Manila, by virtue of a bench warrant of arrest issued by Judge Zenaida Daguna of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19.

The warrant was issued after Gonzales failed to appear during the promulgation last May 2004 of the frustrated homicide case filed against him by Rene Acuña, former chair of Barangay 685 Zone 74 in District 5, Manila.

After posting bail on Oct. 25, 2000, Gonzales went into hiding until the time of his arrest.

The victim said that the incident happened on Aug. 28, 1999 as he was preparing to hear the complaint of a resident. He said he was inside the toilet when he heard the accused looking for him. As soon as he went out, he said Gonzales repeatedly stabbed him with a bolo.

Fortunately, the victim managed to survive the attack as bystanders rushed him to the hospital.

The accused was sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay the victim P100,000 in damages.