ILOILO – Law enforcers have captured one of Iloilo province’s most wanted fugitives for multiple counts of child abuse, ending his months-long evasion in a joint police operation in Sara town.
The suspect, a 37-year-old farmer from Barangay Salcedo, Sara, ranked No. 2 among the municipality’s most wanted and No. 3 on the provincial list.
He was arrested around 8:49 p.m. on October 30 in Barangay Poblacion Ilaya by the Sara Municipal Police Station’s Tracker Team, with support from the Iloilo Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) and the 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company (2nd IPMFC).
Police served a warrant of arrest for four counts of Acts of Lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 5 (b) of Republic Act 7610, or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.”
The warrant was issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 66 in Barotac Viejo on October 28, with bail set at P180,000 for each count.
The suspect was apprised of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he understood before being taken to the Sara police station for documentation and eventual turnover to the issuing court.
Police Brigadier General Josefin Ligan, director of the Police Regional Office 6, lauded the operation, saying: “The arrest of wanted persons is a testament to our commitment to justice and sends a strong message that no one is above the law.”
He also underscored the importance of public cooperation in crime prevention and pursuit of fugitives.
“We will continue to pursue all fugitives of the law and ensure that those who commit crimes face the consequences of their actions,” Ligan added.
Authorities described the operation as a decisive blow in the province’s campaign against sexual crimes, particularly those targeting minors. Police said the arrest sends a message that offenders cannot escape justice, no matter how long they hide./PN
