POLICE Regional Office 5 director, Brigadier General Jonnel C. Estomo yesterday announced the capture of eight most wanted criminals in Bicol region, six of them long being sought for non-bailable rape cases.

“The arrests were made in line with our sustained effort to account for most wanted persons as well as loose firearms and partisan armed groups in Bicol as ordered by Philippine National Police chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos,” Estomo said.

One of the suspects identified as Melchor Diaz, a 61-year-old resident of Bgy. Mendez in Polangui, Albay, was arrested by the local police on the strength of a warrant for rape issued by the Ligao City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 last December 14.

Estomo said the suspect was accused of raping a minor in their neighborhood before going in hiding when he was formally charged in court. Local policemen under Colonel Arnold Santiago caught the elderly suspect.

The 2nd identified as Edwin Belmonte, 48, a resident of Bgy. Luya, also in Polangui, was jailed on the basis of a warrant for statutory rape, qualified rape and acts of lasciviousness in relation to Republic Act (RA) 7610 or the anti-child abuse law issued by the Ligao City RTC Branch 5 on July 9, 2019.

Albay policemen tracked down the suspect in his residence last Tuesday.

The 3rd identified as Fidel Caña, 29, a construction worker from Bgy. Bagasbas in Daet, Camarines Norte, was arrested on the strength of a warrant for 12 counts of violation of RA 11313 and the cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and RA 10175 issued by the Naga City RTC Branch 62 on December 27, 2016.

Members of the Camarines Norte Police Provincial Office under Col. Julius D. Guadamor arrested the suspect who allegedly had several minor victims including one who had the courage to file charges against him in court in 2016.

The 4th, Christopher Dichoso, 31, a laborer tagged as the No. 1 most wanted person in Magallanes, Sorsogon, was arrested in Bgy. Bacolod in Magallanes, on the basis of a warrant for two counts of statutory rape and rape with no bail recommended by the Bulan, Sorsogon RTC Branch 65 last December 20.

Local policemen under Col. Arturo Brual Jr. arrested the suspect who became wanted for sexually abusing a minor in their neighborhood.

The 5th identified as Fernando Lacaste, a 72-year-old farmer from Sitio Kagdagat in Bgy. Boton, Casiguran, Sorsogon, was arrested on the strength of a warrant for two counts of statutory rape issued by the Sorsogon City Family Court Branch 12 last December 20.

Another identified as Martin Garcia, 20, a resident of Bgy. Cogon in Juban, Sorsogon, was arrested last Sunday on the basis of a warrant for rape in relation to RA 7610 issued by the same Sorsogon family court.

The 7th identified as Rodolfo Obnamia, a 50-year-old carpenter from Bgy. VI in Daet, Camarines Norte, was arrested last Wednesday on the strength of warrants for three counts of rape and qualified rape through sexual assault issued by the Daet RTC Branch 5.

Estomo said the 8th suspect identified as Jonathan Orense, a known drug trafficker in the region, was arrested in a buy-bust operation last Tuesday in Bgy. Calauag.

He said the local police under Col. Marlon Gatan seized two heat-sealed plastic sachets containing more than P2,000 worth of shabu, a marked P500 bill and a caliber .38 revolver with five live ammunition from the possession of the suspect.

Estomo said the suspect is now facing non-bailable charges for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013.