The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) warned Thursday individuals coddling Jason Ivler to face punishment for obstruction of justice.

The NBI issued the warning as it pursued its hunt for the principal suspect in the fatal shooting of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., son of Undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr. who works in the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff. The victim was a recruitment manager of the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

Angelito Magno, chief of the NBI Special Action Unit (SAU), said they have already established the locations of the houses of relatives and friends of Ivler where he could possibly be hiding.

“We established his contacts, friends and relatives and their houses where he could possibly be staying. We are pursuing trails as to his whereabouts,” said Magno.

Magno warned individuals coddling him to cooperate with authorities or face obstruction of justice.

“They may be slapped with obstruction of justice. We are also hoping that Ivler, who was considered armed and dangerous, not to resist arrest when law enforcers corner him. We will not hesitate to defend ourselves should he fight us,” Magno said.

NBI Director Nestor M. Mantaring disclosed that they have received information that the Ivler is still in the Philippines. “We received information that he was hiding from one province to another province. But I cannot give you further information regarding that,” he said.

Mantaring said manhunt operations are continuing against Ivler.

The pictures of the 27-year-old Ivler have already been distributed to authorities for posting in strategic places all over the country. “We already alerted authorities to check all ports, airports and possible exit points to look for Ivler. He has a hold departure order issued by BI even before the November 18 incident occurred,” said Magno.

Magno said the car allegedly being driven by Ivler, who is the stepson of Asian Development Bank (ADB) British consultant Stephen Pollard, was traced on Monday in Marikina City.