By Felipe V. Celino
SIGMA, Capiz – A tipster who provides information leading to the arrest of a fugitive will receive a PHP50,000 reward.
Sigma Mayor Dante Rizal Eslabon announced the bounty on Tuesday, March 11, during a press conference at his office.
He said the reward will be awarded after the local government unit’s regular flag-raising ceremony on Monday, March 16.
Jhon Marth Cosares, 22, of Barangay Bangonbangon, Sigma, was arrested at noon on March 10 in Barangay Yati, Liloan, Cebu.
He was presented to the media during the press conference.
Under a municipal ordinance in Sigma, anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of a wanted person facing a rape charge will receive PHP50,000 from the local government.
Eslabon said three of the town’s 10 most wanted rape suspects have already been arrested.
“The reward is very effective in capturing rape suspects,” the mayor said.
Members of the Sigma Municipal Police Station, Liloan Municipal Police Station, and the Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit (RECU) 7 arrested Cosares on charges of sexual molestation.
He faces three counts of Acts of Lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 5 (b) of Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act).
He is also charged with Rape by Sexual Assault under Article 266-A, Paragraph 2 of the Revised Penal Code, docketed under Criminal Case Nos. C-25-2666-01, C-25-2667-01, C-25-2668-01, and C-25-2669-01.
Judge Judith D. Orendain-Tonogbanua of Regional Trial Court Branch 20 in Mambusao, Capiz, issued the arrest warrant on Jan. 21, 2025.
A bail bond of PHP180,000 was recommended for each Acts of Lasciviousness case, while PHP200,000 was set for Rape by Sexual Assault.
Authorities confirmed that Cosares is the sixth most wanted person in Capiz province.
He is now in police custody and will be turned over to the court of jurisdiction.
