Police arrested a man facing seven arrest warrants for alleged rape and child abuse during a coordinated manhunt operation in Odiongan, Romblon, on November 7, 2026.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) identified the suspect only by the alias “Vin,” who was listed as the No. 10 Provincial Most Wanted Person in Nueva Ecija.
According to the PNP, the suspect faces five counts of rape and two counts of violating Section 10(a) of Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The seven arrest warrants were issued by a court in Nueva Ecija on October 14, 2026. No bail was recommended for the rape charges.
The operation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Romblon Provincial Field Unit in coordination with the Cabanatuan City Police Station and intelligence and operational units from Central Luzon and Mimaropa.
Participating units included the Regional Intelligence Unit 4B, Romblon Provincial Intelligence Team, Regional Intelligence Division 4B, Odiongan Maritime Police Station, Romblon Provincial Mobile Force Company and Odiongan Municipal Police Station.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the arrest demonstrated the importance of coordination among police units in pursuing individuals wanted for serious offenses, particularly those involving children.
“Hindi dapat maging hadlang ang layo ng lugar para maipagpatuloy ang paghahanap ng katarungan. Kapag may warrant na kailangang ipatupad, we must make sure that our coordination works and that the process moves forward,” Nartatez said.
“More importantly, we must never lose sight of the children and families whose lives are affected by these cases,” he added.
The PNP said the arrest formed part of its Enhanced Managing Police Operations program, which prioritizes intelligence-driven operations, inter-unit coordination and the enforcement of court-issued warrants.
Authorities did not disclose further details about the alleged offenses to protect the privacy of the minor involved.
The PNP reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing cases involving alleged child abuse and ensuring that suspects face the appropriate judicial proceedings.
