Bounty up for suspect in New Zealander’s slay

HITMAN NAMED Southern Police District director BGen. Kirby John Kraft shows the media a photo of John Mar Manalo, who was identified by witnesses as the gunman who killed 34-year-old New Zealand tourist Nicholas Peter Stacy—PHOTOS FROM SPD-PIO

Police have put up reward money of P500,000 (NZD14,562) for the arrest of one of the robbers who shot dead a New Zealand tourist in Makati City over the weekend.

At a press briefing on Thursday at the Southern Police District headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, SPD director Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft identified the gunman as John Mar Manalo, a resident of Barangay Upper Bicutan in Taguig City.

According to Kraft, at least four witnesses positively identified Manalo as the one who gunned down Nicholas Peter “Nick” Stacey, a 34-year-old tourist from Auckland, New Zealand, at 12:25 a.m. on Feb. 19.

A reward of P500,000 would also be given to anyone who could provide information on the other suspect. Asked about the source of the money, Kraft said it was provided by “our civilian friends,” who wanted to expedite the resolution of the case.

With the positive identification of at least one of the suspects, police may already directly file a criminal complaint of robbery with homicide before the prosecutor’s office.

Wanted for another case

“But even without a warrant of arrest for this case, he has an existing warrant of arrest for another case. That’s why he can be arrested, anytime, anywhere, provided that the public will provide information on his whereabouts,” Kraft said.

People may report any information about the case to the Makati City police station at 0929-7936525.

Based on a background check, Manalo, along with two other accused, has a standing warrant of arrest for “robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons” issued by Judge Elenita Macatangay-Alviar of Branch 12 of the Regional Trial Court of Malolos City, Bulacan, on Sept. 5, 2022. The court set the bail at P100,000 for each of the three accused.

Police have yet to uncover the identity of the driver of the motorcycle used in the robbery. But Kraft assured the public that there were police teams deployed to track down the suspect.

“It is better for their safety if Manalo and his accomplice will just surrender themselves to authorities. This will also speed up in serving justice to the victim’s family,” Kraft said.

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