Philippine authorities finally took custody of the country’s most wanted man following his arrest earlier in Bangkok, Thailand after seven years of hide-and-seek game.

Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Jose Maria “Bong” Panlilio arrived in the country at around 6 a.m. Saturday via Cebu Pacific Flight 932.

“Elements of the PNP Intelligence community met and escorted Panlilio from NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) to Camp Crame where he is presently undergoing standard custodial procedures such as booking and medical examination,” said Espina in an interview.

“He is temporarily detained at the PNP Custodial Center pending proper disposition on the return of his warrant of arrest with the issuing court in Calamba City, Laguna which is ongoing,” he added.

Panlilio, 56, son of an international jeweler and whose family owns several jewelry shops in the country, was arrested in Bangkok allegedly for violating immigration laws, particularly the use of forged passport with fictitious name.

He carries a total of R5-million reward for robbery-slay of half-brothers Ariel de Castro Real and Albert de Castro Gutierrez on July 15, 2003 in Calamba, Laguna.

Court records showed that Panlilio lured Real, then 28, and Gutierrez, then 31, to buy his Starex van which the former pawned to a friend for P250,000. The brothers, records revealed, were used-car dealers.

But instead of heading to where the Starex van was pawned, Panlilio reportedly took the two brothers to a subdivision in Calamba, Laguna where he allegedly shot them at close range before taking their money.

Panlilio was charged based on the testimony of some witnesses who tagged him as the killer, resulting in the issuance of an arrest warrant against him with no bail recommended.

Posters carrying pictures and reward offer for Panlilio were placed in different parts of the country to facilitate his arrest, until he was collared in Thailand.

Espina said Panlilio will be presented to a Laguna court where he is facing charges of robbery with homicide.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said the arrest of Panlilio only showed strong ties that bind local enforcement agencies to their counterparts abroad, noting that the arrested suspect has been placed under Red Notice of the International Police in 2005. (Aaron B. Recuenco)