POLICE arrested Western Visayas’ number one most wanted person (MWP) for two counts of qualified rape and qualified sexual assault in Barangay Maybato Sur, San Jose, Antique, around 10:20 a.m. on July 1, 2025.
The suspect, identified only by the alias Leo, 24, single, and a student from Barangay Batbatan, Culasi, Antique. His arrest was carried out by personnel of the Culasi Municipal Police Station (MPS) following intensified manhunt operations of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6).
The suspect is facing two criminal charges: Qualified Rape by Carnal Knowledge under Article 266-A(1)(d) in relation to Article 266-B, paragraph 6 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended by Republic Act (RA) 11648, which is non-bailable; and Qualified Sexual Assault under Article 266-A(2) in relation to Article 266-B, paragraph 7 of the RPC, also amended, and in relation to Section 5(b) of RA 7610, which carries a recommended bail of P200,000.
The accused is currently detained at the Culasi MPS and will be turned over to the issuing court.
Police Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, acting director of the PRO 6, praised the tracker teams and community members who helped locate and apprehend the suspect.
“This feat was achieved through the collaborative efforts of the community and our force multipliers," Ligan said.
The police in the region have successfully arrested the wanted persons, and Ligan assured that they will continue to pursue them and bring them to court. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)