CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – Authorities have arrested the number one most wanted in Eastern Visayas and another most wanted person in Samar in separate dragnet operations.
Police Chief Superintendent Elmer R. Soria, Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas (PRO8) director, said Joel Abalon, 28, was arrested at 9:20 a.m. Monday in his parent’s house at Barangay Zone 3, San Roque town in Northern Samar.
Abalon ranked number one in the most wanted person list of San Roque town.
The police had been tipped-off on Abalon’s presence and arrested him just when he was about to go to the polling precinct to cast his vote for barangay elections.
The presiding judge did not recommend any bail amount for the suspect, Soria said.
“Abalon thought the police were too busy for the village polls and will not notice his presence. Despite being occupied with election duties, our men still performed their normal police functions,” Soria added.
Also arrested was the number two most wanted person of Daram town in Samar. Marcus Baleña Jr., 55, was nabbed by the Daram police in his hideout in Barangay Burgos at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Baleña is facing two separate charges for frustrated homicide and qualified theft and was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Agerico Avila of RTC branch 29 in Catbalogan City.
No bail was recommended by Avila for both cases, Soria said.
Soria said the arrest of wanted persons was one of the steps undertaken by PRO8 to ensure the peaceful conduct of the barangay elections. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)