‘Killer’ of NBI lawyer’s son nabbed in Bulacan

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation has arrested a drug suspect tagged in the killing of a son of an NBI lawyer in this city last year.

The suspect, identified as John Michael Garcia, was collared on Monday afternoon in Malolos, Bulacan by a combined team of agents from the NBI district offices in Pampanga, Ilocos and the Cordilleras.

The arrest of Garcia was based on a warrant issued by the Baguio City Regional Trial Court Branch 78 for the murder of Luke Maraneg, 29.

The victim, son of NBI agent and lawyer Dickson Maraneg, was shot dead on Nov. 24, 2024 in Baguio City.

The NBI-Pampanga district office said Garcia’s target was his girlfriend’s former partner Gino Manolo Banta.

Maraneg was with Banta when the shooting occurred in Happy Homes, Barangay Ferdinand.

The NBI said Garcia had been moving in Baguio City, Pangasinan and La Union to evade arrest.

NBI agents said that through surveillance, they traced the suspect in the house of a relative in Barangay Mambog, prompting them to launch an operation for his arrest.