Five years after failing to attend the Regional Trial Court’s promulgation of its decision on a rape case, a Bagamanoc resident has been apprehended in Tayabas City, Quezon province last week.
Joint personnel of the Bagamanoc police station led by officer-in-charge Capt. Jerome Despuig, together with Tayabas City Police Station, arrested Mario Villafuerte Vistal, 56, married, a mason carpenter and resident of sitio Carotan, Antipolo, Bagamanoc.
He was collared on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by then RTC Branch 42 Presiding Judge Genie G. Gapas-Agbada, last May 19, 2023, under Criminal Case No. 3168.
Prior to sentencing, Vistal reportedly entered into a plea bargaining agreement with the prosecution, admitting his guilt to a lower offense, most likely acts of lasciviousness.
However, he did not appear during the promulgation on August 24, 2018, with the straight penalty of imprisonment for six years still unserved before his arrest last week.
In Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, a construction worker from Catanduanes was arrested also last Nov. 15 in connection with a criminal case filed against him before the 1st Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Bato-San Miguel for attempted homicide.
Personnel of the Bato police station led by officer-in-charge Lt. Dan-Nilo Capili, together with the Catanduanes 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, Cabiao MPS, a team from the Police Regional Office 3 led by Maj. Shariel Paulino and 303rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion led by Capt. Mark Leslie Barlis, handcuffed Dexter Arjo Añonuevo, 33, at barangay San Fernando Norte.
1st MCTC Presiding Judge Francisco Torres issued the arrest warrant last June 19, 2023 under Criminal Case No. V-1338, with recommended bail of P12,000 for his provisional liberty.