The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has arrested the region’s top three most wanted persons in separate law enforcement operations.
On Aug. 21, authorities arrested Christopher “Toper” Olpos, 41, the region’s No. 1 Most Wanted Person for rape, in Brgy. Ubos, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
Olpos, a farmer from Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, was nabbed by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued in 2008 by Judge Roderick A. Maxino of the Regional Trial Court Branch 63 in Bayawan.
He is now under the custody of the Bayawan Component City Police Station.
Two days earlier, on Aug. 19, PRO-NIR operatives also captured the No. 2 and No. 3 Most Wanted Persons in the region.
Angelo Sevilla, 23, of San Enrique, Negros Occidental, was arrested for alleged rape of a minor, a case covered under Republic Act 8353 and R.A. 11648.
The warrant of arrest against him was issued by Judge Liewelyn Fiel Bonghanoy of RTC Branch 75 in Bago City on Aug. 7.
On the same day, police also arrested Edric “Toto” Malundo, 44, of Sagay City, who was accused of stabbing a man to death during a drinking session in 2016.
His arrest was carried out by Sagay City police based on a no-bail warrant issued by Judge Raymund Joseph G. Javier of RTC Branch 60 in Cadiz City.
In addition, PRO-NIR reported the arrest of Reynante Piso y Villarit, 47, the Top 1 Most Wanted Person at the municipal level in Manapla, Negros Occidental.
Piso was allegedly involved in planning and orchestrating a shooting incident.
Police Regional Director BGen. Arnold Thomas Ibay said the arrests underscore the commitment of the Philippine National Police to pursue fugitives and restore public trust.
“These operations send a strong and unequivocal message that lawbreakers have no safe haven on Negros Island. ” he said.*