Ilocos Norte’s most wanted person for rape arrested

By Liezle Basa Inigo

CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO — The Ilocos Norte’s number one most wanted person with P300,000 reward for his head was arrested on Monday, July 11, at Purok 5, Sitio 4, Vanguard, Area D, Barangay 178, in Camarin, Caloocan City.
    Brigadier General Westrimundo Domantay Obinque, director of Police Regional Office Region 1, identified the suspect as Rodrigo Rafael Jr., a.k.a. Jay-Ar Rafael, a native of Barangay Barbaqueso, Carasi Ilocos Norte but presently residing in Caloocan City.
    Rafael Jr is classified as the Province’s Top 1 most wanted and Number 1 under Provincial Private Armed Group and Dangerous Drugs Council.
    The arrest was made by joint elements of Carasi Municipal Police, Banna Municipal Police, Regional Intelligence Division, PRO1 and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Ilocos Norte.
    The suspect was collared after the joint operatives effected the warrant of arrest with no bailbond for 19 counts of rape issued against him by Hon. Judge Conrado Ragucos of Regional Trial Court, Branch 16, Laoag City.
    A reward of P300,000 was also approved by the Dept. of Interior and Local Government for his arrest.
    “This kind of performance is what we are always working to achieve. I laud these personnel for doing a great job in the performance of their sworn duties and I hope that their feat would be replicated by others,” said Obinque.