Rape suspects nabbed in Iloilo

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two rape suspects, including Western Visayas’s top most wanted person, were arrested in Iloilo for rape charges.

A poultry farm caretaker was nabbed for allegedly raping a teenage girl.

Arnel (not his real name), 40, was collared at his workplace in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo 10:05 p.m. on April 18.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Station 1 apprehended the suspect by virtue of arrest warrants for five counts of statutory rape docketed as Criminal Case Numbers C-23-2394-04, C-23-2395-04, C-23-2396-04, C-23-2397, and C-23-2398-04.

Judge Rommel Leonor of the Regional Trial Court Branch 21 in Mambusao, Capiz issued the arrest warrant with no recommended bail.

Captain Peter John Ramos, ICPS1 chief, said a 15-year-old hauled the suspect to court.

While the suspect claimed that something happened between them, he alleged that he did not force himself on the victim.

Arnel, a resident of Barangay Veterans Village, City Proper, Iloilo City, said they knew each other through social media. They exchanged messages and eventually went for lengthy calls.

He then visited the girl and one thing led to another.

While the case was filed in Mambusao, the suspect is tagged as the top eight most wanted person of City Proper district.

He was also ranked as the eighth most wanted person in Iloilo City.

The suspect is now detained.

Meanwhile, a mechanic-cum-fisherman was arrested in Estancia, Iloilo, over accusations that he raped his girlfriend.

Police collared Reno (also not his real name), 52, of Estancia, Iloilo around 11 a.m. on April 19.

Reno is listed as the number 1 most wanted person of Western Visayas.

Members of Estancia Municipal Police Station led personnel from other units like the Regional Intelligence Division, Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 6, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Iloilo Field Unit, Philippine Coast Guard, Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) and San Dionisio MPS in arresting the suspect.

Reno is facing charges for violation of Article 266-B of the Revised Penal Code as amended by Republic Act 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997).

Judge Jose Mauricio Gomez of the Regional Trial Court Branch 71, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant on March 15, 2023.

No bail bond was recommended for his provisional freedom.

Captain Arniel Buraga, Estancia police chief, said the alleged rape happened in 2022 in the victim’s house.

While the two were romantically involved, they were not living under the same roof.

The victim, who was older than Cañeso, had children from a previous relationship.

“Galing sa laot si Reno dahil mekaniko nga siya ng mga motorized banca. Nang umuwi, may dala siyang mga isda. ‘Yung iba, pinamigay ng victim sa mga kapitbahay,” Buraga said.

He narrated that the victim got drunk after she gave in to the invitation of her neighbor to drink liquor.

She even fell to the floor the moment she got home.

It was then that the suspect forced himself on the dozing victim.

After the deed, he went back to the sea to work.

It was when he came back several days later that he learned that the woman died.

But Buraga said he was not aware of the woman’s cause of death.

“Basta iniwan niya lang at natagpuan na lang,” he said.

Reno was later charged with rape but not for the woman’s death.

Meanwhile, Buraga said that Reno also has a standing arrest warrant for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

The arrest warrant was issued in January 2023.