Man arrested over string of rape raps

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A man accused of repeatedly raping his niece was arrested early morning of July 5, 2021 at his home in Calinog, Iloilo.

Warlito Celeste, 57, was feeding his pigs at their backyard when police barged into his home at Barangay Tabucan, Calinog around 6 a.m. of Monday.

Celeste is listed as the fourth most wanted person of Iloilo province.

Members of Calinog Police Station, together with operatives from the Regional Intelligence Division, the PNP Special Action Force, and the 602nd Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 (RMFB-6), served an arrest warrant against Celeste for 12 counts of rape docketed as Criminal Case Numbers 21-0999 to 21-1011.

Captain Dadje Delima, Calinog police chief, said the suspect was aware of the case filed against him.

He was accused of sexually molesting his then 10-year-old niece in January 2017.

“Apparently, the rape happened while he was under the influence of liquor,” Delima said.

Relatedly, another most wanted person was arrested for a rape charge in Lambunao town.

Raffy Mallorca, 28, a resident of Barangay Abat, Mina was arrested around 7 a.m. Monday at Barangay Ilawod, Lambunao.

Members of Mina Police Station, together with Calinog PNP, collared Mallorca suspect for the crime of rape by carnal knowledge under Art. 266-A Par 1 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by The Anti-Rape Law of 1997 in relation to Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act). The case is docketed as Criminal Case No. 19-83434.

Regional Trial Court Judge Gemalyn Faunillo Tarol of Janiuay, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant on March 8, 2019.