Photo courtesy of PNP
A 21-year-old man ranked second on Eastern Visayas’ most wanted list was arrested in Julita, Leyte, after police located him in his home barangay, authorities said.
The suspect, identified only as alias “Zion,” was taken into custody in Barangay Dita on Sept. 7 during a manhunt led by the Leyte Police Provincial Office and the Julita Municipal Police Station.
Police said the operation also involved intelligence and tracking units from Eastern Visayas and Rizal that helped trace the suspect’s whereabouts.
He was arrested on warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 15 in Burauen, Leyte, for two counts of statutory rape. No bail was recommended for either charge.
Authorities said the arrest ended the search for one of the region’s highest-ranked wanted persons. The suspect was brought to the Julita police station for documentation before his turnover to the issuing court.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police would continue pursuing individuals with standing warrants and emphasized that arrests must be carried out through lawful procedures.
The suspect has yet to be tried on the charges and remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.