The Philippine National Police arrested seven most wanted persons in coordinated operations across the country on July 14, intensifying its campaign against fugitives facing rape and sexual assault charges.
In Ilocos Sur, police captured a national most wanted person facing seven counts of statutory rape under a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court in Ballesteros, Cagayan. Bail was set at ₱200,000.
Authorities also arrested city-level most wanted persons in Las Piñas City and Angeles City, Pampanga, for sexual assault and rape through sexual assault. Their warrants carried recommended bail of ₱300,000 and ₱200,000, respectively.
In Mountain Province, police apprehended the No. 2 most wanted person in the Cordillera Administrative Region for qualified rape and rape through sexual assault. The operation involved local police, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, intelligence units and the regional mobile force.
Separate operations in Cabuyao City, Laguna, and Naic, Cavite, led to the arrest of regional most wanted persons facing statutory rape and rape charges. One of the warrants carried no recommended bail.
In Toledo City, Cebu, joint operatives from the CIDG, Cebu Police Provincial Office and Regional Intelligence Unit arrested the No. 8 most wanted person of Police Regional Office 7 for rape.
All seven suspects were informed of their constitutional rights and placed under police custody pending turnover to the courts that issued their warrants.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. commended the operating units for enforcing the warrants through coordinated and lawful operations.
“Ang bawat warrant na naipapatupad ay mahalagang hakbang para mapalakas ang tiwala ng publiko sa ating justice system,” Nartatez said.
He added that proper coordination and adherence to legal procedures were essential in bringing accused persons before the courts.
The PNP said nationwide manhunt operations would continue in line with its Focused Agenda on Enhanced Managing Police Operations and the administration’s peace and order priorities, while observing due process and respecting human rights.