Iloilo cops arrest region’s three most wanted in one hour

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) arrested three of Western Visayas’ most wanted persons in just over an hour on March 1.

The three fugitives, all accused of sexual molestation, were identified only as alias Anton, 21, of Barangay Bita-og Gaja, New Lucena, Iloilo; alias Ayie, 32, of Barangay Aglalana, Passi City; and alias Jer, 21, of Barangay Bilidan, New Lucena.

Members of the Passi City Police Station arrested Ayie at around 9 a.m. at Barangay Tagubong, Passi City.

He was apprehended by virtue of an arrest warrant for three counts of statutory rape under Article 266-A (1) in relation to Article 266-B of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and two counts of lascivious conduct under Section 5 (B) of Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

No bail was set for his statutory rape case, while a PHP 200,000 bail bond was recommended for each lascivious conduct charge.

The 6th Regional Trial Court, Branch 6, Dumangas, Iloilo, issued the arrest warrants on Feb. 24 and 25, 2026.

Lt. Col. German Magbanua III, Passi City police chief, said Ayie is the No. 2 most wanted person in Region 6.

Five minutes after Ayie’s arrest, members of the Zarraga Municipal Police Station arrested Anton, a student, at Barangay Poblacion, New Lucena.

Anton was charged with rape by carnal knowledge under Article 266-A, Paragraph 1 (D) in relation to Article 266-B, Paragraph 1 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 11648.

The 6th Regional Trial Court, Branch 27, Iloilo City, issued the arrest warrant on Jan. 20, 2026.

Anton is the No. 1 most wanted person in Western Visayas.

At 10:20 a.m., members of the New Lucena Municipal Police Station arrested Anton’s co-accused, Jer, also a student, at Barangay Poblacion, New Lucena.

Jer is the No. 3 most wanted person in Western Visayas.

Lt. Jhonrey Laru-an, New Lucena police chief, said Anton and Jer were charged along with another individual.

Laru-an said the two suspects and two other persons were also charged with rape by sexual assault in relation to Republic Act 7610, and that one of the co-accused has already surrendered to police authorities.

Col. Bayani Razalan, Iloilo police chief, lauded the different police units for the arrests.

Razalan said their campaign against wanted persons will continue to make fugitives answerable for the crimes they are accused of, reiterating the IPPO’s commitment to justice and maintaining peace in Iloilo.