MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to intensify its efforts to arrest former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag after a police operation in Ifugao failed to locate the fugitive.

PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Monday, November 2, 2026, that authorities would continue pursuing all leads on Bantag’s whereabouts and enforce the arrest warrant issued against him over his alleged involvement in the 2022 killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

“We will not allow the passage of time or repeated attempts to evade arrest to weaken our resolve. The PNP will remain relentless in pursuing those who are wanted by the law,” Nartatez said in a statement.

“Every lead will be pursued, every lawful opportunity will be acted upon, and we will not stop until they are brought before the courts to answer for the charges against them,” he added.

The PNP chief’s statement came a day after police personnel conducted an operation at a poultry farm in Barangay Pugol, Lamut, Ifugao, on November 1, following intelligence reports that Bantag was allegedly staying at the property while disguising himself as a poultry worker.

The operation, carried out by personnel from the Ifugao Provincial Police Office and the 1501st Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15, however, yielded no arrest after Bantag was not found at the identified location.

Nartatez maintained that the unsuccessful operation did not diminish the police force’s determination to locate Bantag and other high-profile fugitives.

“This is not a setback but a proof that we remain relentless in locating and arresting him as well as other high-profile fugitives,” he said.

He also appealed to the public to provide credible information that could assist authorities in tracking down Bantag and other wanted individuals.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier announced a P20-million reward for information that would lead to Bantag’s arrest.

Bantag has denied the allegations against him and remains at large despite a standing arrest warrant over his alleged role in the killing of Mabasa.

Mabasa, a staunch critic of the Duterte and Marcos Jr. administrations, was shot dead on October 3, 2022, in Las Piñas City.

Reports said two motorcycle-riding gunmen fired two shots at his vehicle near the entrance of a subdivision along Aria Street in Barangay Talon Dos.