Two accused of sexual molestation arrested

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two persons were arrested in separate police operations for alleged sexual molestation.

Cris dela Puerta, 43, of Barangay Ilaya Poblacion, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, and Victor Barrios Jr., 23, of Barangay Tambal, Janiuay, Iloilo were arrested morning of May 9 in Iloilo province.

Members of Barotac Nuevo Municipal Police Station and the PNP’s Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RFMB) 6 collared dela Puerta at around 8 a.m. Tuesday at his residence.

Dela Puerta is accused of lascivious conduct under Sec.5 (b) of Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) in Criminal Case No.  23-10812.

Executive Judge Vicente Go Regional Trial Court (RTC) 6, Branch 68, Dumangas, Iloilo, issued the warrant. Bail was fixed at P200,000.

Meanwhile, members of Janiuay Municipal Police Station, together with personnel from the RFMB-6 and Iloilo Police Provincial Office – Special Operations Group (IPPO SOG) arrested Barrios at 11:20 a.m. at his home in Tambal village.

He was also apprehended by virtue of an arrest warrant for Violation of Sec 5 (b) of RA 7610 in CC No. 23-1609.

Barrios was also accused of two counts of rape by carnal knowledge in CC No. No. 23-1610 and 23-1611.

Judge Redentor Eugenio Esperanza of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 76, Janiuay, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant on April 25, 2023. Bail for Barrios’ first case was fixed at P200,000 but he was not allowed to post bail for the rape charges.