Sipalay water district manager nabbed for rape

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A 48-year-old general manager of the Sipalay City Water District in Negros Occidental was arrested by police for alleged rape in Barangay 3, Sipalay City, on May 21.

Police withheld the suspect’s name.

He was tagged as the No. 2 most wanted person in the city.

Authorities served him arrest warrants at his residence for two counts of rape with no bail recommended and one count of rape by sexual assault with a recommended bail of PHP 120,000.

The arrest warrants were issued on May 21, 2026, by a Regional Trial Court in Sipalay City.

Police Lt. Cipriano Lumanog III, deputy chief of the Sipalay City Police Station, said an arrest warrant for two counts of acts of lasciviousness was also served against the suspect on April 13.

The suspect posted bail of PHP 36,000 for his provisional liberty in the acts of lasciviousness case.

Lumanog said the suspect refused to provide details about the cases and told police that he is willing to face them in court.

Lumanog said the investigation is being handled by the Women and Children Protection Desk.

Rape and rape by sexual assault are punishable under the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 8353, or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997.