Cordillera's most wanted arrested in Abra over 39 counts of rape of a minor
BANGUED, Abra — Police arrested the Cordillera Administrative Region’s (CAR) no. 1 regional-level most wanted person for the third quarter of 2026 in Dolores, Abra, in connection with 39 counts of qualified rape of a minor.
The suspect, identified by police only as alias “Ernesto,” was arrested at around 2:10 p.m. on August 18 in Barangay Talogtog during a joint warrant operation led by the Dolores Municipal Police Station (MPS).
Police said the arrest warrants were issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 1 in Bangued on July 2, 2025, covering Criminal Case Nos. 2025-114 to 2025-127 and 2025-131 to 2025-155. No bail was recommended for the cases.
The operation involved personnel from the Dolores MPS, Regional Intelligence Unit 14, Regional Investigation Division, Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Unit, 113th Special Action Company of the 11th Special Action Battalion-Special Action Force, the 1st and 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Companies, and the 1504th Maneuver Company of Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15.
Police said Ernesto was informed of his constitutional rights in a language he understood and was placed under the custody of the Dolores MPS for documentation before being turned over to the issuing court.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) emphasized that the arrest was carried out pursuant to court-issued warrants.
The arrest does not establish the suspect’s guilt. He remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.