By Jennifer P. Rendon and Felipe V. Celino
Three persons were arrested in a simultaneous police operation in a town in central Iloilo on March 27.
Lona, Mar, and Jez (not their real names) were separately charged for the alleged gang rape of a teenage girl.
The incident happened in the said town in 2021 but the arrest warrant against the suspects was just issued a week ago.
The three were collared by operatives of the municipal police force, the Regional Intelligence Division, the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 6, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU), IPPO Provincial Special Operations Group, the 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, the 601st and 603rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion, the Pototan MPS, and the Iloilo City Police Station 2.
Police operatives arrested the 24-year-old Lona at her home around 11:15 a.m. Monday.
She was charged for violation of Section 10(b) of Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).
Judge Redentor Eugenio Esperanza of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 76 in Janiuay, Iloilo issued the arrest warrant on March 10, 2023.
A P80,000 bail was recommended for her temporary liberty.
Meanwhile, Mar, 18, was arrested around 12 pm.
Mar is Lona’s nephew. He is considered the topmost wanted person of Western Visayas and the No. 8 most wanted person in Iloilo province.
He was accused of rape by carnal knowledge docketed as Criminal Case No. 23-1525.
Judge Esperanza also issued the arrest warrant. No bail was set for his temporary liberty.
On the other hand, Jez, 23, was also arrested at his home around 12:15 p.m.
Just like Mar, he was also accused of rape by carnal knowledge in CC No. 23-1523. His case is also non-bailable.
Jez is the No. 7 most wanted person of Iloilo province.
According to the local police chief, two other persons were also accused of sexually molesting the victim.
Lona was implicated in the crime for allegedly aiding the suspects in sexually abusing her friend.
Lona allegedly brought the victim to a drinking spree where she was allegedly raped by four men.
Mar and the two other suspects were minors when the alleged rape happened.
The warrant of arrest against the two other suspects has yet to be issued.
In Capiz, a senior citizen was also arrested Monday afternoon for the crime of rape.
The police identified the suspect as Estanislao (not his real name) who is facing three counts of rape filed in 1993 in Luzon.
The warrant of arrest was issued on Nov 4, 1993 with no bail.
The suspect was accused of sexually molesting a relative 30 years ago and fled here after the warrant was issued.
