Police authorities in Ilocos Norte arrested five wanted persons in separate law enforcement operations conducted from July 9 to 12, including a Regional Top 10 Most Wanted Person facing a statutory rape charge.

The highest-profile arrest was that of Heinz Leighmor Castañeda, also known as Leighmar Corpuz Castañeda, 19, a Regional Top 10 Most Wanted Person. He was apprehended at around 10:10 a.m. on July 9 in Barangay Quiom, Batac City through a joint operation by the Batac City Police Station, Bangui Municipal Police Station, and the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office.

Police served a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 19 in Bangui for Statutory Rape under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Acts No. 8353 and 11648. The offense carries no recommended bail. Following his arrest, Castañeda underwent a medical examination before being brought to the Batac City Police Station for documentation and turnover to the issuing court.

In a separate operation on July 12, Batac City police arrested Amy Saclayan Ayungac, 65, at her residence in Barangay Naguirangan, Batac City. She was served a warrant of arrest for Estafa issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 in Batac City. The court recommended bail of ₱20,000. She was taken to the Batac City Police Station for processing before being turned over to the court.

Meanwhile, personnel of the Solsona Municipal Police Station, together with operatives from the Provincial Intelligence Unit, Regional Intelligence Unit 1, and Provincial Intelligence and Detective Management Unit, arrested Rogelio Medina Medina, 62, in Barangay Puttao, Solsona on the morning of July 9.

Medina was arrested by virtue of an alias warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 16 in Laoag City for Qualified Theft. The court set bail at ₱16,500. He was subsequently brought to the Solsona Municipal Police Station for booking and turnover to the court.

Also on July 9, personnel of the San Nicolas Municipal Police Station served a warrant of arrest against Ed King Jones Balisacan Dahilig, 25, for Qualified Theft under Article 310 of the Revised Penal Code.

Police said Dahilig had already been arrested by the Solsona Municipal Police Station a day earlier, on July 8, and remained in police custody when the warrant was formally served. The court recommended bail of ₱12,000.

On July 11, personnel of the Bangui Municipal Police Station, assisted by the 101st Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 1, arrested a 62-year-old woman in Barangay Abaca, Bangui.

She was wanted for Violation of Section 129 of Commonwealth Act No. 141, otherwise known as the Public Land Act. Section 129 penalizes the submission or use of false applications, declarations, evidence, or affidavits in connection with claims or proceedings involving public lands. Although enacted in 1936, the Public Land Act remains in force and continues to govern matters involving lands of the public domain unless amended or repealed by Congress.

The warrant, issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 19 in Bangui, recommended bail of ₱18,000. The woman was first taken to Bangui District Hospital for a medical examination before being brought to the Bangui Municipal Police Station for documentation and turnover to the court.