A mayoral candidate in Baguio City, who was unsuccessful in the recent elections and was wanted for several fraud charges, has been apprehended by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Pampanga.

NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago confirmed the identity of the candidate as Mark Andrew Bandoc Directo.

Directo was taken into custody on Monday, June 9, at the ASEAN Clark Villas in the Clark Freeport Zone, Mabalacat City, by NBI Pampanga District Office (NBI-PAMDO) officers who executed an arrest warrant issued by Baguio City regional trial court (RTC) Branch 79 on May 21 for estafa.

The NBI stated, "The arrest of the Subject stemmed from multiple complaints of Estafa through Falsification of Documents filed against him by various individuals."

It was alleged in the complaints that the Subject engaged in misrepresentation in numerous transactions by utilizing fraudulent documents, asserting ownership of several condominium buildings and villas in Clark Freeport Zone and Baguio City.

Furthermore, Directo reportedly informed the complainants that the proceeds from the sale of these properties were meant to fund his campaign for the May 2025 elections.

The NBI also revealed that Directo had made agreements with multiple individuals, promising them a portion of his supposed profits from fictitious projects in Clark Freeport Zone and Baguio City in exchange for financial support for his election bid.

The NBI added, "Numerous individuals from Pampanga and Baguio City were allegedly victims of the Subject's fraudulent activities."