EIGHTY-TWO persons wanted for rape were hauled to jail by agents of the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group in a series of manhunt operations last month amid its intensified effort to put women and child predators behind bars, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

A report from the PNP-IG headed by Brigadier General Romeo J. Macapaz showed that the 82 wanted rape suspects were arrested in manhunt operations launched by the Unit from February 12 to 18 this year.

“This is part of our ongoing effort to account for most wanted persons in the country to prevent them from committing more crimes,” said the official in a report to PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr.

Of the 82 suspects wanted for violation of Republic Act 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, 69 are facing non-bailable warrants of arrest while 13 were allowed to post bail.

Brig. Gen. Macapaz said that three of the arrested suspects were minors while 18 of the suspects have minors as victims. He added that five of the suspects were found to have been the subject of non-bailable warrants more than five years ago already until they were tracked down in their hiding places by PNP-IG operatives.

RA 8353 redefined rape as a crime against persons. It also says that when the rape is attempted and a homicide is committed by reason or on the occasion thereof, the penalty shall be reclusion perpetua to death.

Reclusion perpetua falls under the list of penalties imposed for crimes prescribed in the Revised Penal Code. It actually means imprisonment of at least 20 years and one day to a maximum of 40 years, after which the convicted would be eligible for parole unless otherwise specified.

The maximum penalty is given whenever the rape is committed with the use of a deadly weapon or by two or more persons,; when by reason or on the occasion of the rape, the victim has become insane,; when the rape is attempted and a homicide is committed by reason or on the occasion thereof; when by reason or on the occasion of the rape, homicide is committed;

when the victim is under 18-years of age and the offender is a parent, ascendant, step-parent, guardian, relative by consanguinity or affinity within the third civil degree, or the common-law spouse of the parent of the victim; when the victim is under the custody of the police or military authorities or any law enforcement or penal institution;

when the rape is committed in full view of the spouse, parent, any of the children or other relatives within the third civil degree of consanguinity; when the victim is a religious engaged in legitimate religious vocation or calling and is personally known to be such by the offender before or at the time of the commission of the crime;

when the victim is a child below 7-years old; when the offender knows that he is afflicted with the Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or any other sexually transmissible disease and the virus or disease is transmitted to the victim;

when committed by any member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or para-military units thereof or the Philippine National Police or any law enforcement agency or penal institution, when the offender took advantage of his position to facilitate the commission of the crime; when by reason or on the occasion of the rape, the victim has suffered permanent physical mutilation or disability;

when the offender knew of the pregnancy of the offended party at the time of the commission of the crime; and when the offender knew of the mental disability, emotional disorder and/or physical handicap of the offended party at the time of the commission of the crime.