A man ranked No. 3 in Catanduanes police’s Provincial Most Wanted Person list in connection with seven counts of rape and sexual abuse has been arrested in Pampanga province after several months of surveillance.
The 20-year-old fugitive, a resident of San Andres, was collared in a manhunt operation conducted by joint operatives of the Regional Special Operations Unit- Regional Intelligence Division 5 (RSOU-RID5), RSOU-Catanduanes and the San Andres Municipal Police Station last Feb. 12, 2024 at Purok #2 in barangay Magliman, Bacolor town.
The accused, identified only as “Kabayan,” was arrested on the basis of the warrant issued by then Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 42 Presiding Judge Genie G. Gapas-Agbada in connection with seven cases of rape and sexual abuse under Sec. 5(B) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The complaints were filed in 2021 and docketed as Criminal Case numbers 10834, 10835, 10836, 10837, 10838, 10839 at 10840, with no bail set for his temporary liberty.
He was set to be brought back to the island province to be presented to the court for proper disposition.
In connection with this incident, the Catanduanes police reminded citizens to know their rights and what they must do to prevent incidents of sexual abuse.
“Do not hesitate to report the matter to the authorities – the Women and Children Protection Desk of the PNP, the barangay officials, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other agencies – as well as trusted individuals who will be able to assist the police in addressing cases of abuse especially against women and children,” the police said.