DAVAO CITY (August 14) — The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 in Davao City has issued several alias warrants of arrest against former police officer Arturo B. Lascañas, who is facing multiple criminal charges including online libel, murder, and attempted murder.
In the most recent case, docketed as R-DVO-24-02594-CR, the court ordered law enforcement to arrest Lascañas for online libel under Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The warrant, dated June 9, 2025, set bail at ₱48,000. The court directed officers to bring Lascañas before it to face the charges, or to release him if bail is duly posted and approved.
Earlier warrants stem from far graver accusations. In criminal case R-DVO-17-02087-CR, the court issued an alias warrant for murder on October 16, 2020, with no bail recommended.
Another case, R-DVO-17-02086-CR, involves a charge of attempted murder, for which bail was set at ₱120,000, while a related case, R-DVO-17-02085-CR, also for attempted murder, carried a bail of ₱120,000.
In all instances, the court instructed law enforcement to execute the warrants within 10 days of receipt and to submit a return explaining any failure to serve them.
The addresses listed in the warrants indicate possible locations in Bariquit Compound, Sitio San Andres, Brgy. Indangan, Davao City and Roseville Subdivision, Buhangin, Davao City.
The complainants in the murder and attempted murder cases include officers from the Philippine National Police in Davao City, the Bureau of Immigration, and the National Bureau of Investigation.
Lascañas, a retired police officer and self-confessed member of the so-called Davao Death Squad, has been facing multiple criminal cases for years. He previously fled the country and testified before international bodies against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Authorities have been challenged to act decisively. Law enforcement critics are now urging the PNP and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to move swiftly in tracking and arresting Lascañas, who is said to be freely going in and out of the country despite the outstanding warrants.
They stress that failing to enforce these court orders undermines the credibility of the justice system and emboldens fugitives to evade accountability.
As of this writing, neither the PNP nor Interpol has confirmed whether efforts are underway to locate and apprehend Lascañas.
