MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – After nearly four months, police have arrested a 23-year-old man, a dropped-out criminology student, identified as the prime suspect in the brutal killings of his parents and 14-year-old brother

The victims were attacked with a sledgehammer and steel tube while asleep inside their home in Sitio Andohon, Purok 11, Brgy. Managok, Malaybalay City, on the night of May 21, 2025.

Personnel from the Malaybalay City Police Station (MCPS), with the help of community leaders, apprehended the suspect at around 11:00 a.m. on September 12, 2025, at his former boarding house in Purok 4, Brgy. 1, Malaybalay City. The arrest followed a tip from confidential informants who confirmed his presence in the area.

Col. Jovit L. Culaway, provincial director of the Bukidnon Police Provincial Office (BPPO), confirmed the arrest during a press conference at Malaybalay CPS. The suspect, who confessed to the killings of his 50-year-old father, 48-year-old mother, and younger brother, remains in custody. He had been listed as the No. 1 Most Wanted Person at the city, provincial, and regional levels.

Two of the suspect’s younger siblings, in Grades 5 and 2, survived the attack and are now under the care of relatives. They positively identified their older brother as the perpetrator.

The suspect now faces two counts of parricide and one count of murder, filed under Criminal Case Nos. 46558-25, 46559-25, and 46560-25, with no bail recommended, dated September 11, 2025.

Culaway said that after nearly four months of relentless investigation, close coordination among law enforcement units, and assistance from witnesses, relatives, and friends, authorities successfully apprehended the suspect. He also commended the dedication and teamwork of police officers and partner agencies that led to the operation’s success.

Earlier, investigators on the case revealed that the suspect may have suffered from depression after leaving his criminology studies in 2023 due to academic difficulties, despite financial support from his family. His parents had even prepared a graduation banquet, only to later learn that he was not among the graduates—a disappointment that may have contributed to the tragic events. (melbmadera)