POLICE Regional Office 5 (PRO5) director Brigadier General Jonnel C. Estomo yesterday announced the arrest of 11 most wanted lawbreakers in Bicol including an active Army soldier and six other residents facing non-bailable charges for rape following a string of anti-criminality operations last week.

“This is the result of our stepped-up effort to account for all wanted persons in Bicol region as ordered by Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo B. Carlos, the PRO5 director told the Journal Group.

Brig. Gen. Estomo said that latest to be tracked down by his men was Army trooper Christian Bahillo, 30, resident of Purok 1 in Bgy. Badian in Oas, Albay.

The official said that the trooper is stationed at Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City in Nueva Ecija was arrested by members of the PRO5 Regional Special Operations Group and the Daraga Municipal Police Station with the help of troopers from the Army’s Special Force Regiment Airborne Unit and the Palayan City Police Station on Saturday noon.

Brig. Gen. Estomo said that the Army soldier-turned most wanted person in Daraga municipality is the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for 4 counts of rape issued by Judge Jose Pocholo del Rosario of the Daraga Family Court Branch 2.

The same judge also recommended a P200,000 bail for the suspect in connection with the case for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the anti-child abuse law filed against him.

The Bicol Police director said that the suspect was accused of sexually abusing a minor student before threatening to kill her if she will report him to authorities and her family last year.

The suspect then reported for work at Fort Magsaysay to hide from the law and the victim’s family until the court ordered his arrest. Estomo said his men got all the help they can get from Army officials in arresting the suspect.

The second suspect identified as Noriel delos Santos, 23, of Purok 1, Bgy. Lugui in Labo, Camarines Norte was arrested around 11:00 p.m. Saturday by members of the Camarines Norte Police Provincial Office under Col. Julius D. Guadamor.

The suspect is the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for rape issued by Judge Leo Intia of the Labo Regional Trial Court Branch (RTC) 64 last February 14. Estomo said that the suspect went into hiding after being accused of raping a neighbor who happened to be a minor last year.

The 3rd suspect identified as Mark Padua, 36, laborer, one of the most wanted persons in Tigao, Camarines Sur was arrested by the local police on the strength of warrants for six counts of rape and child abuse issued by Judge Ma. Angela Acompañado-Arroyo of the San Jose, Camarines Sur RTC Branch 58 last December 7.

The suspect was tracked down in his hiding place in Zone 3 in Barangay Gaao in Tigaon municipality.

The 4th, Nick Bamiano, 22, tagged as the no. 1 most wanted person in Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon was arrested in Bgy. Ulag last Saturday based on a warrant for eight counts of rape issued by Judge Jose Salgado of the Ligao City RTC Branch 12.

The 5th identified as Jaime Narez Jr., 30, listed as the 9th most wanted man in Pio Duran, Albay was tracked down in his residence in Bgy. Agustin in Poblacion, Candaba, Pampanga on Wednesday last week – for qualified rape issued by Judge Salgado last October 14.

Members of the Pio Duran Municipal Unit, with the assistance of the Candaba Police arrested the suspect who is accused of sexually abusing a young neighbor.

The 6th identified as Dennis Estinopo, 40, farmer, of Purok 2, Bgy. Lidong in Basud, Camarines Norte was arrested on the same evening by members of the Camarines Norte Police Provincial Office under Col. Julius D. Guadamor, the PRO5 director said.

Tagged as the 2nd most wanted person in Basud, the suspect who went into hiding after raping a minor was placed under arrest on orders of Jude Rene dela Cruz of the Daet RTC Branch 5 in Camarines Norte.

The 7th, John Philip Compuesto, 31, electrician, of Bgy. Bagong Bayan in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte is a wanted rape suspect who has been tagged as the 9th most wanted person in the province.

Brig. Gen. Estomo said that PRO5-RSOG agents led by Lt. Col. Wilfredo V. Sy spearheaded the manhunt for the suspect who is the subject of a warrant for rape of a minor issued by Judge Evan Dizon of the Daet RTC Branch 40 on November 5, 2020.

Records of the case showed that the suspect took advantage of his young victim’s being friendly to him to consummate his sexual desire. The suspect was arrested along North EDSA in Quezon City.

The 8th was identified as wanted murder suspect Jose Ely Guevarra, 67, of Bgy. Timbao in Biñan City in Laguna has been in hiding since 2016 for a murder case until he was arrested by PRO5-RSOG operatives in his Laguna residence based on a warrant for murder issued on March 20, 2017 by Judge Winston Racoma of the Daet RTC Branch 39.

The official said that the suspect is wanted for stabbing his victim to death in Bgy. Luklukan Norte in Jose Panganiban municipality on January 11, 2016.

The four other arrested suspects were identified as known drug traffickers in Bicol region, Estomo said. Recovered from the suspects’ possession were more than 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000 and the buy-bust money.

One of the suspects was identified as ex-Army soldier-turned barangay tanod Homer Suarilla, 42, who was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Bgy. Poblacion, Zone 1 in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur last Tuesday.

All four suspects are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, said Estomo.