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Central Luzon's 'most wanted' arrested in Iloilo town

By Gail Momblan

March 28, 2020, 1:41 pm

<p><strong>APPREHENDED.</strong> Central Luzon's most wanted person, Wilhem Flores, was arrested by the police in Ajuy town, Iloilo province and presented to the press on Friday (March 27, 2020). Flores, 45, a fugitive for 10 years, has three warrants of arrest and is wanted for murder and other crimes.<em> (Photo courtesy of IPPO PIO)</em></p>

APPREHENDED. Central Luzon's most wanted person, Wilhem Flores, was arrested by the police in Ajuy town, Iloilo province and presented to the press on Friday (March 27, 2020). Flores, 45, a fugitive for 10 years, has three warrants of arrest and is wanted for murder and other crimes. (Photo courtesy of IPPO PIO)

ILOILO CITY – Police officers arrested the "most wanted person in Central Luzon" in Ajuy town, Iloilo province on Friday.

Wilhem Flores, 45, resident of Purok 5, Pampang village, Angeles City, Pampanga province, was the subject of three warrants of arrest, one of which was for murder, and has been a fugitive for 10 years.

“Flores has been hiding in Ajuy and Lemery. After (a) month-long coordination with the regional intelligence unit of the NCR (National Capital Region police), we caught him in the hinterlands of Badiangan village, Ajuy,” Col. Paul Kenneth Lucas, Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director, said in a press conference.

He was arrested after a month of monitoring, Lucas added, citing Flores as Central Luzon's most wanted when the latter was presented to the media.

He noted that they had to coordinate with the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 (Central Luzon) and the NCR Police Office for Flores’ mugshot, fingerprint specimen, and other documents to confirm his identity.

Flores is wanted for murder and is facing Criminal Case No. 11-8249 filed at the Regional Trial Court Branch 59 in Angeles City on June 26, 2012, with no bail recommended.

He is also wanted for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and robbery with violence and intimidation of a person. The arrest warrant for this case was issued by Judge Philbert Iturralde of the Regional Trial Court Branch 58 in Angeles City on Sept. 1, 2011, with a PHP160,000 bail recommended.

Flores is likewise facing two counts of robbery with violence and intimidation of a person. His arrest warrant for this case was also issued by Iturralde on Oct. 7, 2013. A bail of PHP100,000 was recommended for each count.

Lucas said Flores claimed to be a resident of Ajuy town and went home sometime in 2012 to 2013.

“We will turn him over to Angeles City because his warrants of arrest were issued there,” he said.

 Lucas said Flores’ arrest proves that the police has not ceased its operations against wanted persons despite efforts to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

 He said the IPPO heeds the directives of Philippine National Police Chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa, and PRO 6 (Western Visayas) Director, Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, to sustain the anti-criminality and anti-insurgency campaign while fulfilling the police’s mission to ensure border controls and other measures for the enhanced community quarantine. (PNA)

 



 

 

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