By Jennifer P. Rendon
A construction worker accused of sexually molesting a relative was arrested shortly after midnight on March 3 in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan.
The suspect, identified as alias Ali, 41, of Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City, was apprehended nearly five years after allegedly committing the crime.
Members of the Iloilo City Police Station 5, in coordination with the 2nd Aklan Provincial Mobile Force Company, arrested the suspect based on an arrest warrant for rape under Article 266-A (1) in relation to Article 266-B of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 8353.
The warrant also covered a charge of acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Section 5(b) of RA 7610. These charges are docketed under Criminal Case Numbers 21-86987 and 21-86988.
Judge Nelson Jiz Bartolome of the Regional Trial Court (RTC)-6 Branch 32, Iloilo City, issued the arrest warrant on November 9, 2021.
No bail was recommended for the rape charge, while PHP 100,000 bail was set for the acts of lasciviousness case.
The suspect is listed as the most wanted person in Iloilo City and the fifth most wanted in Western Visayas.
Captain Joebert Amado, chief of Iloilo City Police Station 5, said the incident occurred in 2020, involving a 13-year-old relative of the suspect.
Following the crime, Ali fled Iloilo City but maintained communication with his family.
Amado revealed that the suspect was not actively hiding and had expressed willingness to surrender.
Reports indicate that the complainant’s family and the suspect had prior discussions about settling the case amicably.
