Most wanted man caught after 16 years

CEBU, Philippines - Two men, including one of the most wanted persons of Cebu, were arrested in separate police operations over the weekend.

Supt. Reycel Carmelo Dayon, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) deputy director for operations, told a press conference that Elmer Abella Sr., 50, whom they caught in Pulangbato, Toledo City, was the 9th most wanted man in Cebu City.

Dayon said Abella went into hiding for 16 years after Regional Trial Court Branch 24 Judge Oligario Sarmiento issued a warrant against him for allegedly raping his daughter several times.

Abella's daughter, who was 13 then, complained when she was in first year high school that her father had been sexually molesting her since grade six.

Reporters tried to get Abella's statement when the police presented him but he refused, saying, "no comment lang ko ana."

But he later said that he did not flee but just transferred residence because he was already married to another woman.

Dayon said that the Toledo City Government may have overlooked Abella when it hired him as a traffic aide.

"Wala ni matan-aw sa Toledo City Government nganong naka-hire og wanted person," he said.

Abella is number nine in the police's list of 10 most wanted persons in Cebu City. 

Meanwhile, in Sitio Villa Bulcita, Barangay Bulacao, City Intelligence Bureau CIB) operatives also handcuffed Rojie dela Peña alias Saba, 32, resident of Tungkop, Minglanilla, Cebu around 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Sitio Villa Bulcita, Bulacao Pardo.

Dela Peña's arrest was made possible with the help of Pardo Police Station personnel.

He yielded a .38 revolver with six bullets in its cylinder and 19 pieces of Identification cards and ATM cards.

Dayon said that the suspect was involved in a series of robberies and holdups in Bulacao, Talisay City.

He said Dela Peña was also considered a gun-for-hire, but police are yet to validate his involvement in the trade.

In an interview, the suspect denied any involvement in any shenanigan, especially as a gun-for-hire or as a robber.

"Wa ta anang linyaha uy, wa gyud ko manulis (I am not into that kind of trade, and I have never robbed anyone)," Dela Peña said.

When asked why the police recovered from him 19 assorted ID and ATM cards, he said he did not know. (FREEMAN)