CIDG arrests Jalal for 2005 journalist killing

On Sunday, authorities arrested Jalal, a fugitive on the national most-wanted list, in Lanao del Norte for his alleged involvement in the killing of journalist Robert Ramos from Laguna almost 20 years ago.

Jalal was apprehended by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Philippine Army, and local police during an operation on April 4, 2025, in Barangay Poblacion, Sapad, Lanao del Norte.

The suspect is accused of shooting Robert Ramos multiple times in Cabuyao, Laguna, in November 2005, and had been hiding for nearly two decades before being captured.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) praised the joint efforts of law enforcement groups, stating that Jalal's arrest marks a significant step toward achieving justice for Ramos and underscores ongoing intensified manhunt operations against most-wanted persons and fugitives across the country.

CIDG head Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III also commended the teams' relentless pursuit, highlighting the importance of such arrests in upholding media security and justice.