BY JEN BAYLON
BACOLOD City – Three fugitives, all sought as the most wanted persons in Western Visayas, were apprehended by the police authorities in the provinces of Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Antique recently.
The Tracker Team of the Isabela Municipal Police Station, in collaboration with various law enforcement units, successfully arrested 19-year-old “John,” the No. 4 most wanted person in the region for five counts of rape.
The apprehension took place on Feb. 7 at approximately 1:03 p.m. at Hacienda Nalipay in Barangay 5, Isabela, Negros Occidental.
“John’s” warrant, issued on Jan. 23, 2024 by Hon. Cyclamen Jison Fernandez in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.
Meanwhile, the Carles Municipal Police Station’s Tracker Team, with support from other law enforcers, successfully captured 67-year-old “Mario” on Feb. 8 at around 1:42 p.m. in Barangay Poblacion, Carles, Iloilo.
The fisherman was charged with five counts of rape and listed as the region’s No. 6 most wanted person.
His apprehension was made possible through an arrest warrant issued by Hon. Oscar Leo Sancho Billena in Barotac Viejo dated Sep. 25, 2023.
And, in Antique Province, the Tracker Team of the Hamtic Municipal Police Station, in collaboration with other police forces, captured a 44-year-old construction worker.
The apprehended person, identified as “Toper,” was charged with rape and listed as the No. 9 most wanted person in the region.
The arrest occurred on Feb. 8 at around 9 p.m. in Barangay Piape 1, Hamtic through an arrest warrant issued by Hon. Ernesto Labiao Abijay, Jr. in San Jose, Antique.
No bail has been recommended for all three fugitives.
Brigadier General Sidney N. Villaflor, the top cop of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), commended the successful operations.
“PRO-6 remains resolute in its stance against all forms of abuse, particularly towards the youth. We will ensure that all offenders are apprehended and that justice is served for the victims of abuse,” he stated./PN
