MANILA – After years of evading arrest, the No. 6 most wanted person in Calabarzon was arrested by the police in Batangas City on Saturday.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas on Sunday identified the suspect as Marlon Abela, 28, and a resident of Sitio Binulihan, Brangay Talahib Pandayan, Batangas City.
Abela was arrested at Barangay Pandayan, Batangas City through a joint manhunt operation launched by Regional Intelligence Unit-4A and Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group-Batangas.
He is the subject of a warrant of arrest for the crime of rape and acts of lasciviousness.
Abela was brought to the Batangas City Police Station prior to his turnover to the issuing court for the proper disposal of the case filed against him.
"The PNP is going after wanted persons because we want them to put behind bars after years of evading arrest,” Sinas said.
Meanwhile, Sinas said a leader of a robbery criminal group was killed during a law enforcement operation in Negros Occidental.
Citing report submitted by Brig. Gen. Ignatius Ferro, acting director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), suspect Eddie Epogon was killed during an armed encounter in Sitio Manluy-a, Barangay San Jose, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental on Saturday.
The armed encounter stemmed when joint operatives of the CIDG Negros Occidental served three warrants of arrest for robbery with homicide and violations of Republic Act 9516 (Illegal Possession of Explosives) and RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Law).
Epogon resisted and fired his gun towards the authorities prompting the latter to return fire that resulted in his death.
Found in the suspect’s possession were a .45 caliber pistol and a grenade.
Epogon is said to be the leader of the “Epogon Robbery Group” and a regional priority high-value individual in Region 6 (Western Visayas). (PNA)
