ILOILO – A 25-year-old man wanted for multiple rape charges was arrested in Bingawan town in this province after more than two years in hiding.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Tim,” was apprehended by local police around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning, June 3, in Barangay Inamyungan.
According to the Bingawan Municipal Police Station (MPS), Tim was the No. 1 most wanted individual in the town.
His arrest was carried out through the strength of a warrant of arrest for three counts of rape by carnal knowledge under Article 266-A, as amended by Republic Act 8353, issued by the Regional Trial Court – Branch 76 in Janiuay, Iloilo.
The suspect is currently under police custody and will be turned over to the court for proper legal proceedings.
The court recommended no bail bond for his temporary liberty, underscoring the gravity of the charges.
Meanwhile, Police Colonel Roland V. Bulalacao, Officer-in-Charge of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), praised the local police for tracking down the suspect.
“This arrest is a major step toward justice for the victims. The IPPO will not rest until all fugitives, especially those accused of heinous crimes, are brought to answer for their actions,” Bulalacao said.
The arrest, Bulalacao said, not only removes a high-risk suspect from the community but also sends a strong message: those who flee from the law will eventually be found, no matter how long it takes.
He further emphasized the province’s intensified manhunt operations as part of a broader crime-fighting strategy, which also aligns with Police Regional Office 6’s On TOP (Technology-Oriented Policing)./PN
