Photo courtesy of PNP
A 23-year-old man wanted in a rape case was arrested in Porac, Pampanga, after nearly three years of avoiding authorities, according to the Philippine National Police.
The suspect, who carried a Php 130,000 reward, was located in Barangay Palat following weeks of intelligence work by operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office Regional Intelligence Division.
Police said he was also listed as a Department of the Interior and Local Government most wanted person and ranked No. 10 on Pampanga’s provincial most wanted list.
The warrant stemmed from a rape complaint tied to an alleged incident during a birthday gathering in Barangay Anunas in February 2023. The arrest order was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 61 in Angeles City.
Authorities said the man had previously been arrested a day after the alleged incident but escaped from police custody in March 2023.
Investigators tracked his movements from Antipolo City back to Pampanga, where he allegedly moved between different locations and took construction-related jobs, including work involving solar panel installation.
Police eventually established that he was staying at a rest house in Barangay Palat. After nearly two days of surveillance, operatives moved in and served the standing warrant.
The suspect is now under the custody of the NCRPO-RID at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City while awaiting further court orders. He remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.