WV’s most wanted man nabbed over string of rape charges

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 45-year-old man tagged as the most wanted person of Western Visayas was arrested morning of April 21, 2023 in San Dionisio, Iloilo.

Amat Bayona, a resident of Siempreviva, San Dionisio, was arrested at Barangay Poblacion, San Dionisio, weeks after he was monitored to have returned from Mindanao.

Members of San Dionisio Municipal Police Station, together with Batad MPS, Iloilo Police Provincial Office – Special Operations Group, IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit, 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Regional Intelligence Unit,  nabbed Bayona for six counts of rape by carnal knowledge under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code as amended by Republic Act 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997) in relation to Section 5 (B) of Republic 7610 ((Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).

The cases are docketed are Criminal Case Nos. 2023-10716, 2023-10717, 2023-10718, 2023-10719, 2023-10720, 2023-10721 and 2023-10722.

Bayona, who used to be a barangay tanod, was also accused for Sexual Abuse under Sec. 5 (B) of RA 7610 docketed as Criminal Case No. C-21-2180-02.

Executive Judge Oscar Leo Billena of the Regional Trial Court Branch 66 in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant for rape on Feb. 20, 2023.

Captain Soviet Torre, San Dionisio police chief, said the victim was a minor when the incident happened.

The crime was first committed in 2010 when the victim was still on her fifth grade. It went on until 2015. But the incident was only reported in 2019.

“The suspect apparently threatened that he would kill her and her mother,” Torre said.

After the case was filed, the suspect left Iloilo and stayed with a relative ay Barangay Sta. Clara, Calamansig, Sultan Kudarat.