Joint elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Virac police station last week collared a 19-year-old laborer in barangay Danicop who ranked 3rd in the list of Most Wanted Persons of the Ilocos PNP.
Jojo Gazmen Magdaraog, a resident of Pinipin, Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur, but presently staying at the Virac barangay, went peacefully with law enforcers of the Virac MPS led by PMsg. Richard Pereyra and CIDG Catanduanes Provincial Field Unit when apprehended at 11:30 PM of Jan. 15, 2025.
He was apprehended on the basis of the arrest warrant issued by Family Court Branch 8 Presiding Judge Emmyloy Valois Rubang-Mangasar in Cardon City, Ilocos Sur in connection with two cases of statutory rape and two cases of rape by sexual assault in relation to Section 5 (5) of Republic Act 7160 or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
The statutory rape cases have no bail recommended while the other charges carry bail fixed at P200,000 each.
A report claimed that Magdaraog had been wanted for some time but he disappeared and had never been seen in Sta. Cruz town where the incidents of sexual abuse occurred.
Under existing laws, any sexual act involving a minor below 16 years old may be considered statutory rape, with the law presuming the minor’s lack of consent.
The penalty for statutory rape is typically reclusion perpetua, which is imprisonment ranging from 20 to 40 years.
On the other hand, violation of Section 5(5) of RA 7610, specifically giving monetary consideration goods or other pecuniary benefit to a child with intent to engage such child in prostitution, carries the minimum penalty of reclusion temporal.