PRO-6 arrests eight wanted persons across Western Visayas

Police Regional Office 6 arrested eight wanted persons, including three Most Wanted Persons, during separate intelligence-driven manhunt operations across Western Visayas on July 16, 2026.

PRO-6 said the operations formed part of its sustained campaign against wanted persons in the region.

In Iloilo province, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Iloilo City Field Unit conducted an operation with the Pototan Municipal Police Station and the PNP Maritime Group 4th Special Operations Unit–Carles.

The operation led to the arrest of Iloilo’s No. 2 Provincial Most Wanted Person at about 9:20 p.m. in Barangay Tumcon Ilaya, Pototan.

The accused, identified only as alias “Jomar,” 28, was arrested on a warrant for statutory rape with no bail recommended.

Republic Act 11648 raised the age for determining statutory rape to under 16, subject to a limited close-in-age exception that does not apply when the victim is under 13. The law took effect in 2022.

In Antique, personnel of the Barbaza Municipal Police Station and the 2nd Antique Provincial Mobile Force Company arrested alias “Mae,” 38, of Barangay San Antonio, Barbaza.

The accused, listed as Antique’s No. 4 Provincial Most Wanted Person, was apprehended through a bench warrant for violating Batas Pambansa Blg. 22, or the Bouncing Checks Law.

Bail was set at PHP 12,000.

BP 22 penalizes the issuance of a check when the drawer knows there are insufficient funds or credit and the check is subsequently dishonored. The law was approved in 1979.

In Capiz, a tracker team from the Roxas City Police Station served an arrest warrant on alias “Edu,” Roxas City’s No. 2 Most Wanted Person.

Edu is detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Barangay San Jose, Roxas City.

The warrant was issued for rape under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code, with no bail recommended.

Article 266-A defines when and how rape is committed under the Anti-Rape Law of 1997. The provision was introduced through Republic Act 8353.

Five people classified as Other Wanted Persons were also arrested in separate manhunt operations across the region, bringing the one-day total to eight.