06/09/2026
3-YEAR MANHUNT ENDS: NATIONAL MOST WANTED PERSON IN R**E CASE WITH ₱130K REWARD ARRESTED
The Philippine National Police, under the command of PNP Chief PGEN Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., arrested a National Most Wanted Person wanted for r**e, ending nearly three years of evasion after the 23-year-old suspect was located in Porac, Pampanga on September 4, 2026.
The male suspect, a solar panel installer and resident of Barangay Palat, Porac, Pampanga, was apprehended by operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office Regional Intelligence Division (NCRPO-RID) by virtue of a Warrant of Arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 61 in Angeles City, Pampanga. He was identified as a DILG Most Wanted Person and No. 10 Provincial Level Most Wanted Person of Pampanga, with a monetary reward of ₱130,000.00.
The case stemmed from an alleged r**e committed on February 5, 2023, during a birthday gathering at the suspect’s residence in Barangay Anunas, Pampanga. The suspect and the victim, who were friends, had been drinking alcoholic beverages during the gathering when the alleged incident occurred.
The suspect was arrested the following day by personnel of Anunas Police Station but allegedly escaped from police custody in March 2023. He fled to Barangay Cupang, Antipolo City, where he stayed at his grandfather’s residence for about a week before returning to Pampanga and moving between different areas to evade authorities.
During his period of evasion, the suspect allegedly obtained construction-related work and later assisted in solar panel installation. He was also provided accommodation at a rest house in Barangay Palat, Porac, which eventually became his temporary residence.
The manhunt intensified through nearly a month of intelligence gathering, surveillance, social media exploitation, technical analysis, and validation. Operatives initially pursued information that placed the suspect at a construction site in Mabalacat, but he had already left the area. The teams then tracked leads connected to his family and checked several possible locations in Angeles City and Pampanga before finally establishing his presence in Barangay Palat.
After nearly two days of sustained surveillance and casing operations, the operating teams proceeded to the identified location and arrested the suspect by virtue of the standing warrant. The Return of the Warrant of Arrest is being prepared for submission to the issuing court for proper disposition.
“Running from the law for years does not erase accountability. We will remain relentless in locating wanted persons and bringing them before the courts to face the charges against them,” PGEN Nartatez said.
“Hindi hadlang ang tagal ng pagtatago para takasan ang batas. Darating ang panahon na haharap sa hustisya ang sinumang may pananagutan,” he added.
The operation reflects the PNP Focused Agenda, a framework for transformation that strengthens police service through intelligence-led action and accountability. It supports Enhanced Managing Police Operations by sustaining focused efforts to locate and apprehend wanted persons.
The suspect is currently under the custody of the NCRPO-RID custodial facility at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City, while awaiting the issuance of the necessary Commitment Orders from the issuing courts.
As the PNP strengthens its pursuit of wanted persons under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., it assures the public of “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman.”
(PNP-PIO)
