Rape suspect arrested hours after coming home

CEBU, Philippines —  The Bantayan police have arrested their most wanted person accused of rape just hours after he arrived in the island from other province.

Police Major Wendell Abellana, Bantayan Municipal Police Station chief, said that they handled the case last year after the victim filed a complaint against Renante Quezon, 25.

Quezon was arrested in Purok Mauswagon 2, Barangay Kabac, Bantayan, Cebu at around 8 p.m. Thursday, September 23, 2021.

The warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Glenn Jumao-as of the Regional Trial Court Branch 81 in Bogo City, Cebu on July 5, 2021 with no bail recommended.

In an interview, Abellana said that Quezon was considered as most wanted person due to the gravity of his offense which is rape.

Quoting the victim, Abellana said the accused committed the offense once a month before the victim filed the complaint.

“And then she (victim) reported the incident by August na so ni take pa gyud ni sya og more than a month for her to come out in the open to lodge a complaint against the accused,” said Abellana.

After the warrant of arrest was issued, Abellana said it took time before them to arrest the suspect who reportedly went to Western Visayas region.

On Thursday, they received reports from the community that the suspect was coming over to Bantayan Island and that they immediately served the warrant of arrest against him.

“Even before sa release of the warrant, atoang monitoring ana nawala na na siya, nitawid na siya sa Region 6,” Abellana said.

According to Abellana, this has been the first time they arrested a person who committed one of the eight most focus crimes after recording zero crime for three months.

He added that with the peace and order situation in the island, this has been also the first time that the trial court recommended no bail against a person charged.

“Usually ra man gud diri sa atoa for the past six months taas kaayo atong mga weeks nga nag-negative atong mga crime records kay walay mga krimen nga nahitabo,” said Abellana. — GMR (FREEMAN)