MANILA, Philippines — A wanted murder suspect was arrested during a “one-time big-time operation” in Marawi City on Thursday afternoon, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Kidnapping Group said Friday.
Police Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo said Michael Estanol, who has an arrest warrant for the October 2018 murder of a certain Ernesto Rementizo, was accosted in Barangay Matampay at around 1:30 p.m.
Estanol is now under Marawi City police custody.
Estomo said Estanol is an alleged member of the Ibrahim Langco Salic Kidnap for ransom group, which targets wealthy businessmen in Mindanao.
The kidnap group was reportedly involved in a series of abductions in Marawi city and nearby provinces, police said.
Estanol was also allegedly engaged in gun-for-hire and robbery extortions activities in Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental by disguising as a construction worker in the area, law enforcement authorities added.