Philippines Most Wanted Criminal Arrested In Thailand

[JLester]

Jose Maria Panlilio (left) in detention after his arrest in Thailand

PNP's most wanted nabbed in Thailand

ABS-CBN NEWS

06/11/2010 8:50 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) most wanted man has been arrested in Thailand, more than 7 years after killing two men in Calamba, Laguna.

Police arrested Jose Maria Sarmiento Panlilio in Bangkok where he reportedly worked as a jeweler.

He has a 5 million peso reward for his arrest.

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) is set to turn Panlilio over to Philippine authorities.

Panlilio has been on the run after being tagged as a suspect in the killing of brothers Albert and Ariel de Castro in July 2003.

On the date of the crime, Panlilio accompanied the De Castro brothers to Calamba to check out a Hyundai Starex van they planned to buy.

Upon reaching Calamba, Panlilio allegedly shot the brothers with a 9mm pistol and robbed them of P250,000.

The P5-million reward was put up by the victims' mother, Atty. Carmencita de Castro, after Panlilio went into hiding.

"Masaya ako [about the arrest]. Another thing, malungkot pa rin ako. Maski siya nahuli, wala na ang anak ko. Ang anak ko ang aking kailangan," said the victims' mother.

PNP's most wanted nabbed in Thailand | ABS-CBN News Online Beta

[JLester]

PNP's most wanted arrested

Manila Bulletin

June 11, 2010, 8:47pm

The long arm of the law finally caught up on the son of a prominent jeweler who is listed number 1 in the most wanted list of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the murder of two brothers in Laguna in 2003.

Jose Ma. “Bong” Panlilio, a resident of Dasmarinas Village, Makati City, carries a P5 million reward on his head.

He is wanted for the killing of Albert Gutierrez, 31, and his brother Ariel Real, 28. The two were found dead in Barangay Makiling, Calamba City on July 2003.

Initial information showed Panlilio was arrested by the Interpol in Bangkok, Thailand for violation of the Thailand’s Immigration Act for using a different name in his passport.

Upon verification, however, it was discovered that Panlilio is also listed in the Interpol’s wanted list, also known as red list.

The suspect is facing robbery with homicide before the Calamba City Regional Trial Court. A warrant of arrest was issued against him by Judge Antonio Manzano of the Calamba City RTC.

The victims’ mother, Carmencita De Castro, initially raised a P1 million reward as she desperately sought justice for the killing of her two sons.

The reward money, however, has been raised to P5 million with the help of other concerned groups and individuals.

Panlilio will be deported back to the country and will be turned over to the PNP.

PNP's most wanted arrested | Manila Bulletin

[JLester]

Thais arrest most-wanted Philippine murder suspect

Philippine Star

June 11, 2010 09:00 PM

BANGKOK - Thai police have arrested the Philippines' most-wanted murder suspect, giving a grieving mother today a long-awaited chance to confront the alleged killer of her two sons.

Jose Sarmiento Panlilio appeared today at Immigration Police headquarters in Bangkok, four days after he was arrested in the coastal city of Pattaya and seven years after the double slaying for which he is the prime suspect.

The 56-year-old has been charged by Philippine authorities with murdering two brothers - Albert Gutierrez and Ariel Real - and stealing 250,000 peso ($5,400) on July 15, 2003 in Calamba city in Laguna province south of the capital, Manila.

He was believed to have fled the country immediately afterward.

The victims' mother was at the police station Friday. An emotional Carmencita De Castro told reporters she had been chasing Panlilio around the world since the killings and was grateful to Thai police.

"For almost seven years ... I have been in agony and pain working for the capture of this fugitive," De Castro said.

"In a short period of time, he was captured here. I don't know how I can thank these officers," she said, adding that she had spent about P1 million ($21,500) in tracing Panlilio.

In Manila, Rolando Garcia, director of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime, hailed Panlilio's arrest as "a good development" saying the suspect has been on Interpol's "red notice" - its highest-level alert for outstanding international arrest warrant - for a long time.

Garcia said Panlilio has been charged with robbery with homicide and he is not eligible for bail.

"The long arm of the law will catch up with anybody," he said. "The world is shrinking for fugitives because of international law enforcement cooperation."

Acting on a tip, Thai immigration police arrested the suspect - nicknamed "Bong" - at a jewelry company in the eastern province of Chonburi on Monday.

Charged with violating immigration law in Thailand, Panlilio will be issued a temporary passport and taken to his home country by the Philippines office of Interpol, said Pansak Kasemsant, deputy commissioner of the Thai Immigration Police.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=583388&publicationSubCategoryId=200

[JLester]

The Philippines’ most wanted fugitive, Jose Ma. ‘Bong’ Panlilio, is interrogated by Thai police and immigration officials yesterday. Inset left shows Panlilio’s mugshot taken from the International Police website. Inset right: Carmencita de Castro, mother of two men Panlilio allegedly robbed and murdered in 2003, talks to reporters during a press conference in Bangkok yesterday following Panlilio’s arrest.

Top jeweler's son arrested in Bangkok

Philippine Star

June 12, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - After almost seven years in hiding, a son of prominent jeweler Fe Sarmiento-Panlilio was arrested in Bangkok last Tuesday for allegedly killing two brothers in Laguna in July 2003.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) considers Jose Ma. Sarmiento Panlilio as the country’s top fugitive since he has the highest reward, P5 million, for his arrest.

Panlilio was arrested in Thailand by authorities last June 8 for violating the country’s immigration law by using a different name, which was not immediately disclosed as of press time.

Panlilio has been placed on the red notice of the International Police upon the request of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime, which directly coordinates with the Interpol to arrest criminals who sought refuge outside the country where they committed their crimes.

Panlilio faces robbery with double homicide charges for the killing of Albert Gutierrez, 41, and Ariel Real, 38, in Barangay Makiling, Calamba.

Panlilio’s arrest was ordered by Calamba City Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Manzano.

Lawyer Carmencita de Castro, the victims’ mother, has dedicated her life in pursuit for justice of her sons and raised over P2 million, bringing to P5 million the total reward offered for Panlilio’s arrest.

Court records showed that on the morning of July 15, 2003, Albert, who was a car trader, agreed to redeem Panlilio’s Hyundai Starex van which was in hock for P250,000 in Laguna.

The records stated that Albert and Ariel withdrew the amount and met Panlilio somewhere in Makati City to go to Laguna, where the van will be redeemed.

On the same day, De Castro said she received a text message from Ariel informing her that he and his brother, on board a Mitsubishi Pajero, were on their way to Laguna with Panlilio. That was the last time she heard from her children.

The brothers were later found in a grassy area in Barangay Makiling in Calamba City. Their Pajero was found 120 meters away.

Police said Panlilio allegedly shot the victims with a .9mm pistol.

Gutierrez sustained five gunshot wounds while Real was hit eight times in different parts of the body.

Panlilio also allegedly took the bag containing the money intended to redeem the Starex van.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=583494&publicationSubCategoryId=65

[JLester]

Arrested fugitive Panlilio arrives in Manila from Thailand

GMA News

06/12/2010 | 11:51 AM

One of the country's most wanted criminals who was nabbed by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in Thailand arrived in the Philippines before dawn on Saturday, a radio report said.

Government-run dzRB radio reported that Jose Ma. Panlilio, who faces murder charges for allegedly killing two brothers and robbing them of P250,000, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 5:39 a.m.

Panlilio, who is accused of shooting Ariel Real and Albert Gutierrez on July 15, 2003 in Calamba, Laguna, was arrested by Interpol operatives in Bangkok for violating Thailand's immigration laws.

Panlilio was whisked off to Camp Crame immediately after arriving in the country, the report added.

Panlilio, son of the late socialite jeweler Fe Panlilio, has been in hiding for seven years.

Arrested fugitive Panlilio arrives in Manila from Thailand - Nation - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News