IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay — In a major breakthrough in the brutal killing of two security guards inside the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) office in Ipil last week, a 19-year-old male suspect voluntarily surrendered to authorities on Tuesday morning, November 12, 2025.
Police said the suspect, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay, turned himself in to the Ipil Municipal Police Station at around 8:00 a.m., accompanied by his family.
During the surrender, the individual confessed to his involvement in the crime that transpired at around 6:00 a.m. on November 4, 2025, inside the BIR office. His extrajudicial confession was made in the presence of his legal counsel, Atty. Richard Rambuyong, and was duly subscribed and sworn before Provincial Prosecutor Atty. Rommel Cabrera Cudal at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Authorities said the confession marks a significant step forward in the investigation of the gruesome incident, where two security guards—Jamie Dante, 52, of Naga, and Arkhadz Dawila Muharral, 41, of Tungawan—were found dead with multiple gunshot wounds inside the BIR office.
The suspect’s surrender was the result of close coordination between investigators from the Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Office (ZSBPPO), local government units, partner agencies, and members of the community.
“This voluntary surrender is a testament to the trust and cooperation between our law enforcement and the community,” said Police Colonel Dasugo, ZSBPPO Provincial Director. “Together, we will continue to uphold justice and ensure that Zamboanga Sibugay Province remains a safe place for everyone.”
Authorities have yet to release details about the suspect’s possible motive or whether other individuals were involved. Police investigators, however, confirmed that the case remains under active investigation, with all leads being carefully pursued.
The double murder shocked residents of Ipil earlier this month, after a BIR employee discovered the bodies of the two guards upon reporting for work. Responding officers from the Ipil Municipal Police Station and Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) found Dante slumped in the receiving area and Muharral in a separate room, both bearing multiple gunshot wounds.
Relatives of the victims continue to call for justice as the police move closer to fully resolving the case.