Zamboanga’s Top Wanted Rape Suspect Nabbed in Negros

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — A 51-year-old sugar worker wanted for multiple counts of rape involving a minor was arrested Sunday in Barangay Maquiling, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, after two years in hiding.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) identified the suspect as Zamboanga City’s top 1 most wanted person and the top 7 most wanted in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Police said the suspect, a former boat mechanic in Zamboanga City, was arrested by operatives from the Sagay City Police Station, with assistance from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion–Negros Island Region and Zamboanga City Police Station 9.

Authorities served two arrest warrants against the suspect.

One was for 15 counts of qualified rape of a minor, with no bail recommended.

The other was for 15 counts of rape by sexual assault, with a recommended bail of PHP200,000 for each count, totaling PHP3 million.

The warrants were issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 15 in Zamboanga City on May 16, 2023.

Police Lt. Col. Alvimar Flores, chief of the Sagay City Police Station, said the suspect returned to Negros Occidental in 2023 after learning about the charges.

Police did not release additional details regarding the cases.

Flores said the suspect will be turned over to the Zamboanga police within the week.

In a statement, Nocppo said the arrest was a major development in the pursuit of justice for victims of sexual violence and demonstrated law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to track fugitives nationwide.

Meanwhile, another suspect, a 37-year-old man facing six counts of qualified rape and acts of lasciviousness, was arrested Saturday in Barangay Jonobjonob, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Police records showed that the warrant, with no bail recommended, was issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 58 in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on May 8, 2025.

Nocppo said the suspect is listed as the top 10 most wanted person in the Negros Island Region.