FBI Most-Wanted Fraudster Reportedly Seen in Philippines; Leads Point to Manila, Batangas

Michael Lizaso Marasigan, a Filipino-American fugitive on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list, has reportedly been spotted in the Philippines after being sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison for his role in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving money intended to help sick children travel to Hawaiʻi for medical treatment.

Marasigan, 54, was photographed by staff of the Pacific Daily News on March 15, apparently leaving a café in Manila, according to Hawaii News Now. The photograph has emerged as a potentially significant lead for U.S. authorities searching for him.

The Filipino Reporters has also received information that Marasigan has been seen in Batangas, although the reported sighting has not been independently verified.

Sources have also told The Filipino Reporters that Marasigan is related to incumbent San Juan, Batangas Vice Mayor Octavio Antonio L. Marasigan.

FBI Offers $150,000 Reward

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to Marasigan’s arrest and conviction. The bureau identifies him as a Filipino national and a dual citizen of the Philippines and the United States with ties to both Guam and the Philippines.

According to the FBI, Marasigan and his co-conspirators operated a fraud scheme through the Guam Shrine Club’s Hafa Adai Bingo between March 2015 and December 2021. Bingo patrons were allegedly told that proceeds would be used to transport sick children to Shriners Hospital for Children in Hawaiʻi for medical treatment.

The operation generated at least $34 million in bingo proceeds, but federal authorities said approximately $10.75 million was diverted and laundered for the benefit of Marasigan and others instead of being used for the nonprofit’s program to transport children for medical care.

Marasigan was found guilty in May 2025 of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Allowed to Travel to Philippines, Then Disappeared

Court records cited by the FBI show that Marasigan was granted permission to travel to the Philippines for medical reasons while awaiting further court proceedings. He failed to return as required and stopped communicating with the court in June 2025.

A federal warrant for his arrest was issued on June 25, 2025, for violating the conditions of his pretrial release.

On May 18, 2026, Marasigan was sentenced in absentia to 262 months, or nearly 22 years, in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay $10,750,804 in restitution to the Aloha Shriners, forfeit $5,871,493, and pay a mandatory assessment. The FBI considers him an escape risk.

The FBI’s Honolulu Field Office confirmed that Marasigan remains wanted and said investigators continue to seek information about his whereabouts.

With a photograph reportedly placing Marasigan in Manila and separate, unverified information pointing to Batangas, attention is now focused on whether Philippine and U.S. authorities will be able to locate and arrest the fugitive.