THE two most wanted persons in Cebu and Negros Occidental were arrested in two separate police operations on Tuesday afternoon, January 24, 2023.
The suspects were identified as 18-year-old driver Jay Niño Bacon alias Botchok, single, a resident of Camomot Street, Barangay Poblacion 1, Carcar City, southern Cebu, and Reymar Quiapo Ababa, 29, a construction worker from Barangay San Benito, Calatrava town, Negros Occidental.
Lieutenant Colonel Ardioleto Cabagnot, chief of Carcar City Police Station, said in an interview with SunStar Cebu that they arrested Bacon around 5 p.m. Tuesday based on a warrant issued by the court on January 20, 2023.
Cabagnot said the number 5 most wanted person in Cebu is facing two counts of rape charges defined under Paragraph 2, Article 266-A of Revised Penal Code as amended by Republic Act (RA) 8353 in relation to RA 7610.
The court allows Bacon to post a bail of P200,000 for his temporary liberty.
But no bail has been recommended for violating the RA 7610, otherwise known as the "Special Protection of. Children Against child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.”
Bacon strongly denied the accusations against him, saying he did not even know the victim.
Meanwhile, Ababa was nabbed in Barangay South Poblacion, Naga City, southern Cebu also around 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The number 2 most wanted person in Negros Occidental was arrested in a joint operation by the Naga City Police Station, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas, and Bacolod City police.
The policemen were armed with a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Juvy Victoriano-Dioso, of the Regional Trial Court Branch 49, which is based in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
Lieutenant Colonel Junnel Caadlawon, chief of Naga City Police Station, said that Ababa denied the rape allegations during the investigation.
It was learned that the suspect fled to Cebu after learning about the rape charges filed against him.
No bail has been recommended for his temporary liberty. (GPL/TPT)