SAN Simon town’s third most wanted personality was arrested by provincial and local police forces during a manhunt operation in Barangay San Pedro recently.
The suspect identified as Francis Bagtas, 20, was arrested after more than a year of hiding by virtue of an arrest warrant under Criminal Case No. 18-621 (M) issued by RTC Branch 55 Presiding Judge Maria Josephine Rosario-Mercado.
This town’s chief of police Chief Inspector Louie Gonzaga said Bagtas was listed as top three in both most wanted personality and top target personality lists of this municipality for one count of rape.
Bagtas, who was 19 years old during the actual commission of the alleged crime, was responsible for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl whom he was in a relationship with sometime in 2017 at his residence in Barangay San Pedro here.
“Apparently, Bagtas and the victim were in a relationship that time. But being that the girl was still a minor, she’s only 15 years old then, he was automatically charged with rape,” Gonzaga explained.
Gonzaga said Bagtas was already turned over to the regional police in Camp Olivas as he faces the rape charge with no recommended bail filed against him.