MANILA — Alan Dennis Lim Sytin, the alleged mastermind behind the 2018 murder of his brother, Dominic Sytin, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) late Friday night, April 11, after being repatriated from Malaysia.

Police Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo — Philippine National Police spokesperson and director of Police Regional Office III — confirmed the repatriation, stating that Dennis Sytin was apprehended in Malaysia after an extensive search. 

“Nagkaroon po kami ng information na siya po ay nagtatago po sa Malaysia. We coordinated po sa ating police attache sa Malaysia po,” Fajardo said.

“Nung March 22 po ay nahuli na po natin siya sa tulong ng Royal Malaysian Police po at nagrequest po tayo na ma repatriate po siya dito sa Pilipinas para harapin din po niya yung kasong isinampa din po sakanya.”

The case stems from the November 2018 killing of Dominic Sytin.

PNP moves to repatriate 'mastermind' in killing of businessman Dominic Sytin

According to Fajardo, in March 2019, authorities arrested the alleged gunman, who implicated Dennis Sytin as the mastermind.

Later, another suspect, Oliver Fuentes, was also apprehended and corroborated the gunman’s claims. Both individuals are currently detained.

Fajardo further stated that the investigation revealed that Dennis Sytin allegedly harbored resentment towards his brother over business matters, leading to the alleged plot.

“Ang kuwento ng gunman pati na din nitong middle man ay diumano allegedly ay may kinikimkim na galit diumano itong si Dennis Sytin sa kanyang kuya dun sa kompanya nila–again I'm just quoting kung ano yung sinabi nung dalawang nauna nating nahuli,” Fajardo said.

The gunman testified that they conducted several planning meetings before the November 2018 attack, where Dominic Sytin was shot at a hotel in Subic.

The process of repatriating Dennis Sytin was protracted, lasting approximately three weeks, due to his violation of Malaysian immigration laws.

Fajardo said that the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia assisted in providing travel documents since Dennis Sytin’s Philippine passport had been cancelled in 2019.

PNP moves to repatriate 'mastermind' in killing of businessman Dominic Sytin

“He has to pass through the normal channel po… Wala na po siyang karapatan mag-travel sana,” Fajardo explained.

The PNP will be investigating how Dennis Sytin entered Malaysia, considering his canceled passport.

 Fajardo also revealed that the Sytin family had offered a P10-million reward for information leading to Dennis Sytin’s arrest, which aided in locating him in Malaysia. 

“May mga informant po tayo na ginamit po sa Malaysia that led us na ma-pinpoint natin kung asaan po yung kanyang whereabouts po,” said Fajardo.

Authorities are also investigating the possibility that Dennis Sytin entered Malaysia through a “backdoor” entry.

“Isa po yun sa tinitignan po natin na through backdoor po yung naging entry po niya sa Malaysia considering po na cancelled na po yung kanyang passport as early as 2019 po,” she added.

Fajardo said that Dennis Sytin has been read his rights, and that he has access to legal counsel.