A Virac resident included in the list of top 10 Provincial Most Wanted Persons was apprehended last week as the Catanduanes police collared a total of 10 individuals within a 24-hour period.
John Joseph Sarmiento Villegas, 31, a resident of San Pablo, Virac, was apprehended in San Isidro Village at 8 PM of Oct. 21, 2025 by elements of the Virac police station together with personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Catanduanes Provincial Field Unit.
He surrendered to the law enforcers who were armed with a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 43 Assisting Judge Candice Guada Cresilda Cortes Almodovar-Tordesilla in connection with three (3) counts of Acts of Lasciviousness docketed under Criminal Case No. 11658, 11660 and 11662 with a total bail of P540,000.00 recommended for his temporary liberty.
Earlier at 6:58 AM, joint elements of the Caramoran police and the Catanduanes 2nd Police Mobile Force brought in abaca stripper Avelino Papango Francisco, 51, of Sabloyon, who is facing trial for violation of Section 77 of PD 709 or the Forestry Code of the Philippines under Criminal Case No. 11670 before the same court with bail set at P10,000.
An hour later, farmer Romeo Tolledo Soriao, 59, of Patagan Sta. Elena, San Miguel, was nabbed by the a team from the town police and the Catanduanes Provincial Intelligence Unit headed by PCpt. Renee Albao on the basis of warrant issued by RTC Branch 43 Acting Presiding Judge Ritche Reyes Regala for violation of the Chainsaw Act of 2002 with bail set at P10,000.
At noon of the same day, San Andres law enforcers apprehended Larry Bermejo Osorio, 3`, of Lictin, who is wanted by the Municipal Trial Court in connection with a criminal case for violation of Section 92 of Republic Act 10654 penalizing fishing through the use of explosives, noxious or poisonous substance or electricity before the sala of Presiding Judge Catherine B. Baldos, with bail recommended at P2,500.
Bermejo’s co-accused, Aldrex Camacho, 29, also of Lictin, was caught two hours later.
Arrested one after the other by different police units for illegal possession of a chainsaw were abaca strippers Larry Echane Betito of Patagan Sta. Elena, San Miguel and Ariel dela Virgo Francisco, 26, of Sabloyon, Caramoran
The following day, Oct. 22, at 4:20 AM, personnel of the Catanduanes 1st PMFC led by PCMS Alvin Leonidas, together with San Andres police, apprehended Comagaycay barangay kagawad Manuel Antonio Somido, 58, Sapang Palay tricycle driver Arnel Solaybar Pagal, 53, and San Vicente laborer Jesus Carmelo Ocinar Solla, 43, while transporting undocumented sawn lumber in Batong Paloway.
A companion, Julius Ocinar Solla, also of San Vicente, escaped arrest.
The police confiscated as evidence 52 pieces of 2x2x12 “dita” lumber with a volume of 208 board feet, a Hyundai H100 shuttle van and a black Jialing motorcycle used by the suspects.
In a statement. Catanduanes Police Provincial Director PCol. Elmer C. Cereno said the arrests are not merely statistics but solid proof of the police’s goal of ending all criminality, protecting the environment and ensuring that justice will prevail regardless of one’s standing in life.
The actions done under the Enhanced Managing Police Operations (E-MPO) of the PNP are pursuant to the directive of Acting PNP Chief PLt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and Police Regional Office 5 Director PBGen. Nestor Babagay Jr. for a more systematic response against criminality.