Tipster in Ivler's arrest receives half of P1M reward

The tipster who informed authorities of the whereabouts of murder suspect Jason Ivler on Thursday received the first half of the P1 million reward for him. No less than Presidential Chief of Staff Undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr., father of Ivler’s victim Renato Jr., personally handed the P500,000 to the informant at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) main office in Manila about 2:30 p.m. “Masakit, masaya. Kasi [I’m hurt but happy because] I am used to hold a press conference for other stories, but this time I am sitting here and it is about my son," a teary-eyed Ebarle Sr. told reporters at a press briefing. He said the fund was released by the Office of the President through the facilitation of the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who died of heart attack Tuesday morning. "I would like to express my gratitude to (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) for raising the reward and of course, to the late Press Secretary Remonde, who was always there during my darkest time. He is one of the Malacañang officials who help me sought the president’s approval for the P500,000 reward," he said. The tipster, who was clad in black jacket and a bonnet to conceal his identity, did not grant interviews to the media. "We have to protect his identity. Of all the many persons who gave the information, he was the one who gave us the right information," said Ruel Lasala, the NBI deputy director for intelligence services.

Ebarle Jr., 27, was shot dead inside his vehicle in Quezon City last November 18 following an alleged traffic altercation with Ivler, who was arrested Monday morning in his mother’s house in Blue Ridge Subdivision, Quezon City. Ivler, 28, is still confined at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center after suffering gunshot wounds when he engaged arresting NBI agents in a brief gun battle. Two NBI agents – Angelito Magno and Anna Lira Labao – were also hurt in the skirmish. The elder Ebarle said he would be forever thankful to the tipster for informing the authorities of Ivler’s whereabouts. “Nandito ako para personal na magpasalamat sa informant at sa mga ahente ng NBI na tumulong para sa matagumpay na pagaresto kay Ivler (I m here to personally thank the informant and the NBI agents for the successful arrest of Ivler)," he said. NBI director lawyer Nestor Mantaring said the tipster initially refused to accept the cash reward, but they convinced him to receive it. He said the informant does not have to attend the hearing in court as witness in the case against Ivler. "He did not have to appear because the recovered guns and bullets are enough. And besides there are witnesses like the agents themselves who need to appear for the trial regarding the shootout. As to the charges of murder, they have eye witnesses to be presented in court," Mantaring said. - KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV