36% of arrested ‘most wanted’ persons in Western Visayas face rape charges

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Ever noticed the number of rape suspects who were arrested recently?

It’s because more than a third of the arrested most wanted persons in Western Visayas are facing such charges.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 records indicated that 11 of the 30 most wanted persons arrested from Feb. 5 to 8 were charged for rape.

It is also notable that a number of arrested rape suspects were in their senior years.

On the other hand, three were accused of violation of Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) and two each for murder, carnapping, homicide, qualified theft and violation of RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

Other arrested persons faced attempted murder, attempted rape, violation of RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosive, sexual assault, violation of Batas Pambansa 22 (Bouncing Checks Law) and robbery with homicide.

For the same period, different police units also nabbed 164 other wanted persons.

Topping the list are persons charged with illegal gambling (69) and illegal fishing and estafa (10 each).

Meanwhile, eight persons were arrested for murder and qualified theft/theft; attempted homicide with five; violation of RA 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004), physical injuries; reckless imprudence; rape and grave coercion at four each; and violation of ordinances, robbery, illegal discharge of firearm, grave threats and cybercrime with three each.

On the other hand, two were nabbed for violation of BP 22, oral defamation, attempted murder, violation of RA 7610 and violation of RA 9165; while the rest were for homicide, acts of lasciviousness, frustrated murder, RA 10591, resistance and disobedience, petroleum selling, frustrated homicide, bigamy, and alarm and scandal.