Police take into custody a 31-year-old man listed as the National Capital Region’s No. 4 most wanted person during an operation in Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City, on Sept. 1. The suspect is facing sexual assault and statutory rape charges. (Photo courtesy of PNP)
A 31-year-old man facing sexual assault and statutory rape charges was arrested in Quezon City after police tracked him to Barangay Kamuning on Sept. 1.
The suspect was ranked fourth on the National Capital Region’s most wanted list and second among the Quezon City Police District’s most wanted persons, according to the Philippine National Police.
Information gathered by intelligence units led members of the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit to the suspect’s location. The operation was coordinated with the district intelligence unit and the Regional Intelligence Unit-NCR.
Police arrested the man on warrants covering separate charges of sexual assault and statutory rape under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Acts 8353 and 11648.
Republic Act 11648, enacted in 2022, raised the age of sexual consent in the Philippines from 12 to 16, subject to limited exceptions provided under the law.
Court records cited by police indicated that bail may be posted for the sexual assault charge, while no bail was recommended for the statutory rape case.
The suspect was brought to the concerned police unit after his arrest for documentation and processing. Police said the warrants would be returned to the issuing court for the next legal proceedings.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said authorities would continue using intelligence operations to locate people facing serious criminal charges, particularly cases involving children and other vulnerable individuals.
The arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. The charges against the suspect remain allegations that must be established in court.