MANILA, Philippines – Pantar town Mayor Jabar Tago surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) nearly two weeks after a Lanao del Norte court ordered his arrest over a murder charge.

Iligan City police chief Senior Superintendent Leony Roy Ga, who confirmed this to Rappler on Tuesday, June 19, said Tago was accompanied by a lawyer while undergoing booking procedures.

On May 13, police arrested Tago and 6 others after a firefight in the local official’s compound, as authorities prepared to conduct a raid in response to reports that he was keeping high-powered firearms.

He was transferred to the custody of Presidential Adviser Abdullah Mama-o, upon the latter’s request.

Ga told Rappler that he would still have to confirm if Mama-o, President Rodrigo Duterte’s adviser and special envoy to Kuwait, was present at the turnover.

On May 28, Lanao del Norte Regional Trial Court Judge Silvestre Orejana Jrissued an arrest warrant against Tago and a certain Jameloding Tago over a murder charge.

A source earlier told Rappler that the warrant was related to the December 2017 killing of Tago’s predecessor, Mayor Exchan Limbona. – Rappler.com