Rapper wanted for homicide arrested in La Paz

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A freelance rapper was arrested following a police manhunt operation on the afternoon of March 17 in La Paz, Iloilo City.

Alias Mel, 22, of Lapuz, Iloilo City, was apprehended in Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz district.

Members of the Iloilo City Mobile Force Company, together with personnel from Iloilo City Police Station 2, the Iloilo City Police Office-City Intelligence Unit (ICPO-CIU), and Regional Intelligence Unit 6, collared the suspect by virtue of an arrest warrant for homicide under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code.

The case is docketed under Criminal Case No. 26-96822.

Branch 26 of the 6th Regional Trial Court in Iloilo City issued the warrant on March 11, 2026.

A bail bond of PHP 120,000 was set for his temporary liberty.

Mel is listed as the No. 4 most wanted person in Iloilo City.

Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code defines homicide as the unlawful killing of another person without circumstances that would qualify the act as murder or parricide, and carries a penalty of reclusion temporal, or imprisonment of 12 years and one day to 20 years.

With the arrest, Brig. Gen. Josefino Ligan, Western Visayas police chief, vowed to continue the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served.

“This accomplishment demonstrates that PRO 6 will relentlessly pursue individuals who violate the law. We also encourage the public to continue cooperating with authorities as we work together to maintain peace and order in our communities,” Ligan said.

Mel is under the custody of Iloilo City Police Station 2 for proper disposition of his case.