Three teens arrested over rape charge

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Three teenage boys accused of sexual molestation were separately arrested on the evening of Feb. 15 in Aklan province.

Aliases Jojo, 18; Richie, 19; and Cris, 17, were accused of rape under Article 266-A (1) in relation to Article 266-B of the Revised Penal Code docketed under Criminal Case No. 17132.

Judge Bienvenido Barrios of the Regional Trial Court (RTC)-6 Branch 3, Kalibo, Aklan, issued the arrest warrants on Feb. 15, 2024.

No bail was recommended for their temporary liberty.

Members of the New Washington Municipal Police Station, Aklan Police Provincial Office (AkPPO) tracker teams, Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) – 6 – Aklan, AkPPO – Provincial Intelligence Unit and Aklan Maritime Station arrested the suspects.

Police operatives arrested alias Jojo around 8 p.m. on Thursday in Barangay Poblacion, New Washington town. Jojo is listed as the eighth most wanted person in Western Visayas.

Twenty minutes later, police apprehended alias Richie in Barangay Polo, New Washington. He is ranked as the region’s third most wanted person.

Meanwhile, Cris was arrested around 10 p.m. in Barangay Laguinbanua East, Numancia. The minor is the ninth most wanted person in the region.

A teenage girl reportedly accused the trio of gang-raping her. The alleged rape incident occurred last year.

All suspects are now detained pending the disposition of their case.