By Mike Crismundo
CAMP COL. RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – A rape suspect who has been hiding for almost 14 years was arrested by the police authorities manning the enhanced community quarantine control checkpoint in Barangay Waloe, Loreto, Agusan del Sur province, a ranking police official in the region reported Thursday.
(PRO 13 / MANILA BULLETIN)
Caraga Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) Regional Director, Brig. Gen. Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr., said the suspect, identified as Joel B. Rivas, alias Keking Rivas, 40, a resident of Barangay Bataan, La Paz town of that same province was arrested when he attempted to pass the quarantine control checkpoint at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The suspect was riding a motorcycle without plate number and upon verification by the police officers, it was found out he has a standing warrant of arrest for alleged forcible abduction with rape issued by Judge Dante Luz N. Viacrusis of Regional Trial Court (RTC) 10th Judicial Region under criminal case no. 6403 dated October 31, 2006 with no bail bond recommended, the region’s police chief said.
The suspect was immediately brought to Loreto Municipal Police Station (MPS).
Meanwhile, in a separate “Manhunt Charlie” operation, police forces also arrested two wanted persons in two separate operations in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur on Wednesday, police also reported on Thursday.
In Barangay Rizal, Buenavista town, Agusan del Norte province, police arrested suspect Joel S. Sumampong, 25, for violation of RA No. 7610, the “Special Protection against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.”
The same manhunt operation also led to the arrest of J A. Arreza, 36 of Barangay 2, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur for alleged violation of RA No. 9262, the “Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004.”
Esquivel assured that despite the wider scope of tasks performed by the police force against the coronavirus, law enforcement operations remain in place to arrest all persons who broke the law.