CUYAPO, Nueva Ecija – A man with an outstanding arrest warrant for the rape of his former 17-year-old girlfriend in Ifugao Province back in 2013 finally fell into the police’s hands after more than nine years during manhunt operations conducted here on Sunday.

In his report to Col. Jess B. Mendez, town police head Lt. Col. Erwin Ferry identified the arrested suspect as Celvino Taromo, 29, single, a farmer, of Bgy. Luna, this town.

The police tagged him as the no. 1 most wanted person (MWP) in this town.

Ferry said the suspect was nabbed in Bgy. Luna at 4:00 p.m. by virtue of an arrest warrant for rape issued by Presiding Judge Romeo U. Habbiling, of the Lagawe, Ifugao Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 on May 8, 2013, with no bail recommended.

“Dating girlfriend niya ang biktima, 17 years old,” Ferry told the Journal Group on Monday.

Meanwhile, Mendez lauded Ferry and his men for a job well done. “I commend my men, especially the Cuyapo Police Station, for this successful operation. The arrest of this top one most wanted person means that those wanted by the law will be arrested anywhere they go and hide,” he said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Steve A. Gosuico