Fugitive in 3 frustrated murder cases arrested in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY — Police finally arrested a 45-year-old man in the city on Monday morning, May 11, who is wanted for three frustrated murder cases in a province where he had evaded several attempts to capture him.

Local executives and ranking members of the multi-sector Cotabato City Peace and Order Council confirmed to reporters on Monday noon that the suspect, Pata Ebrahim Mama, a resident of Galinato Village in Isulan town, Sultan Kudarat province, is now in police custody.

Captain Steffie Salanguit, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), and Col. Jibin Bongcayao, Cotabato City police director, separately said the suspect surrendered peacefully when policemen arrived at his hideout and served warrants of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 19 in Isulan, the capital of Sultan Kudarat province in Region 12.

The warrants for Mama’s arrest in three frustrated murder cases were issued by RTC Branch 19 and dated February 14, 2026, and signed by Judge Ferdinand Tugas.

The operation that led to Mama’s arrest was carried out by personnel of the Cotabato City Police Station 1 under Maj. Teofisto Ferrer Jr., a team from the PRO-BAR Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14 led by Capt. Khalil Gabriel Reston, and operatives from different units of the Police Regional Office 12.

Bongcayao said barangay officials, Ferrer, Reston, and their counterparts from PRO-12, under Brig. Gen. Arnold Ardiente, located Mama along SK Pendatun Avenue in Barangay Poblacion 6, Cotabato City, based on reports from residents aware of his presence in the area.

He added that the Cotabato City Police Office expressed gratitude to barangay officials and traditional Moro leaders in Barangay Poblacion 6 for helping locate the suspect.