By Jennifer P. Rendon
One of the most wanted persons of Eastern Visayas was arrested late morning of June 1, 2021 in Dueñas, Iloilo.
Police identified the suspect as Valeriano Cordeta, 47, of Barangay Jaguimit, Dueñas.
Major Jose Rey Pabalan, Dueñas police chief, said Cordeta was collared while driving his habal-habal, or motorcycle-for-hire, at Barangay Cabudian around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Cordeta is the No. 6 most wanted man of Eastern Visayas because of a rape charge against him.
Members of Dueñas Police Station, in coordination with the Regional Intelligence Unit 8 (RIU-8), RIU-6, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Biliran, Cabugcayan Police Station and the 1st Platoon of the Biliran Provincial Mobile Force Company, nabbed Cordeta by virtue of an arrest warrant for rape in Criminal Case No. CB-09-380.
Judge Pepe Domael of the Regional Trial Court Branch 37 Region 8 issued the arrest warrant on Dec. 10, 2009 with no bail recommended.
Pabalan said Cordeta had been hiding in the area for more than 6 years. He was accused of sexually molesting a student.
“He drove the student from her home to school. The minor later on got pregnant and gave birth,” Pabalan said.
But Cordeta intimated that he had a relationship with the girl and even called her “honey” as their term of endearment.
The suspect is now detained for proper disposition of his case.
