5 rape, murder suspects fall in Bicol
FIVE men wanted for rape and murder charges were captured by agents of the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) in separate manhunt operations on Sunday, PRO5 director, Brigadier General Jonnel C. Estomo said.
“This is part of our ongoing efforts to account for most wanted criminals in Bicol region no matter how long and where they have been hiding,” said the PRO5 director.
In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, Brig. Gen. Estomo said three of the arrested suspects are wanted for non-bailable rape cases while the two are wanted for murder.
One of the rape suspects identified as Roberto Gajo, a resident of Barangay Salvacion in Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon was arrested in his hiding place in Bgy. Cupang in Antipolo City where he had been in hiding for nearly two years after being accused of raping a young woman in their town.
Members of the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office under Colonel Arturo P. Brual Jr. arrested the suspect on the basis of a warrant for rape issued by the Irosin Regional Trial Court Branch 55 on May 23, 2019.
The 2nd identified as Nestor Bardonado, a farmer from Sitio Lantik in Bgy. Pangpang, West District, Sorsogon City was arrested on the strength of a warrant for seven counts of rape, acts of lasciviousness and statutory rape issued by a local court on December 20, 2019.
Brig. Gen. Estomo said the suspect has been tagged as the 3rd most wanted man in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur. The man is wanted for raping a minor.
The 3rd was identified as Zynel Valencia, a farmer from Bgy. Ilaya in Balud, Masbate who was arrested last Monday on the basis of a warrant for rape issued by the Masbate City RTC Branch 45.
Brig. Gen. Estomo identified the two arrested murder suspects as Ruben Trapalgar and Lemar Rubis. Both were caught last Monday.
Trapalgar was arrested in Bitano, Legazpi City by members of the Albay PPO under Col. Arnold Santiago. The suspect’s arrest was ordered by the Legazpi City RTC Branch 1 last August 5.
Rubis was arrested in Bgy. Tagpu in Mandaon, Masbate by local policemen under Col. Joriz Cantoria. The suspect was ordered arrested by the Masbate City RTC Branch 44 last March 21.
Brig. Gen. Estomo said the five are set to be presented to the courts for issuance of jail commitment orders.
