BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO – The No. 1 most wanted person in the municipality of Santa Barbara was arrested at around 11:30 a.m. yesterday, April 13.
Suspect Richard Fuentes, 49, was a construction worker and a resident of Barangay Dalid, Santa Barbara.
Fuentes was also the No. 5 most wanted person in the province.
The joint operation was conducted by the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group – Visayas Field Unit (Iloilo Team), Iloilo City Mobile Force (ICMF), Iloilo City Police Station 5 (Mandurriao) and Sta. Barbara Municipal Police Station.
The suspect was arrested in Barangay Oñate-De Leon, Mandurriao district, Iloilo City, said Police Captain Roque Gimeno lll, deputy force commander of operations of the ICMF.
Judge Elijo Sharon Ronzales Herrera-Bellones of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 27, issued the warrant of arrest.
Bail for the charge of acts of lasciviousness was recommended at P200,000, but no bail was set for the suspect’s three counts of rape case.
In 2022, the suspect’s wife reported to police that Fuentes allegedly repeatedly assaulted and abused their 13-year-old daughter.
The suspect is being held at the Mandurriao Police Station./PN
