Sapian police arrest two wanted persons

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Two persons wanted for separate crimes were arrested in Sapian, Capiz, police said.

Police served a warrant of arrest Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 9, against a 57-year-old man identified only as “Roy” of Barangay Damayan while he was in Barangay Poblacion, Sapian.

The warrant was issued by Municipal Circuit Trial Court Judge Joevy P. Valenzuela of the Sigma-Sapian-Jamindan circuit in Capiz on Sept. 9, 2026, for violation of Republic Act No. 9175, or the Chain Saw Act of 2002.

The court set bail at PHP 18,000.

The suspect was earlier charged with allegedly cutting a tree using a chainsaw without the required government permit.

Republic Act No. 9175 regulates the ownership, possession, sale, importation, and use of chainsaws and requires permits for their lawful possession and use.

Meanwhile, Sapian police arrested a 29-year-old man identified only as “Toto” during a manhunt operation in Barangay Poblacion on Monday afternoon, Sept. 7, for rape by sexual assault.

The warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Rommel Leonor of Branch 20 in Mambusao, Capiz, on Sept. 7, 2026.

The court set bail at PHP 120,000.

The suspect is under the custody of the Sapian Municipal Police Station pending court proceedings.

Village chief turns over shotgun

In a separate development, Barangay Manayupit Punong Barangay Romero Este Borres voluntarily surrendered a homemade 12-gauge shotgun to the Maayon Municipal Police Station on Sept. 9.

Borres said the firearm had been turned over to him by a concerned citizen who declined to be identified.

Police said the surrender was part of the government’s CAPeace-Tawhayan project and the intensified Tokhang Kontra Armas-Luthang campaign against loose firearms.

The firearm is under the custody of the Capiz Police Provincial Office’s firearms unit for proper disposition.