6 EV most wanted rape suspects fall

PALO, Leyte — Police arrested six individuals listed among Eastern Visayas’ (EV) most wanted persons for various rape charges during targeted manhunt operations conducted over the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holiday period.

Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) reported Tuesday that joint law enforcement teams apprehended the fugitives across Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte and Northern Samar.

On Monday, police arrested a 38-year-old resident of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, identified by police as alias “Jose,” in Barangay Gahoy, Guiuan. Listed as the region’s No. 1 most wanted person, the suspect faces warrants for two counts of rape by sexual intercourse and rape through sexual assault, with no bail recommended.

The same day, law enforcement officers apprehended alias “Tino,” the top most wanted person at the provincial level, in Barangay East Visoria, Carigara, Leyte.

Tino was arrested on warrants for two counts of qualified rape of a minor with no bail recommended, and one count of rape through sexual assault with bail set at P200,000.

On All Saints’ Day, operatives from the Regional Intelligence Division–Regional Special Operations Unit 8 and the Palo Municipal Police Station arrested alias “Macky” in Leyte.

Ranked as the region’s No. 2 most wanted person, Macky faces two counts of qualified rape of a minor and one count of qualified rape, all without bail, as well as five counts of qualified sexual assault with bail set at P200,000 each.

Also on 1 November, joint operatives from Southern Leyte and Laguna police units arrested alias “Chito,” a resident of Maasin City and the region’s No. 4 most wanted person.

He was apprehended under warrants for statutory rape, with no bail recommended, and statutory sexual assault, with bail set at P40,000.

In Northern Samar, police arrested alias “Junjun” of Bobon, Northern Samar, who is listed as the region’s No. 8 most wanted person. He was taken into custody under a 21 October warrant for two counts of statutory rape, with no bail recommended.

In Eastern Samar, Can-avid police arrested alias “Adel,” a 66-year-old farmer ranked as the region’s No. 6 most wanted person, for qualified rape, with no bail recommended.

PRO-8 regional director Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño commended operating units for executing the arrests during the holiday security deployment.

“We will continue to intensify our manhunt operations and strengthen our intelligence-driven efforts to ensure that wanted persons are brought before the courts to answer for the charges against them,” Cardiño said.