Cops arrest some of Manila’s most wanted suspects

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno presents three of Manila’s most wanted suspects during a press conference at the Manila City Hall on Monday (July 15, 2019). Photo by Christia Marie Ramos/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Some of Manila City’s most wanted suspects, including two alleged rapists, have been arrested by authorities after months in hiding.

During a press conference at the Manila City Hall on Monday, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso presented three suspects on the city’s most wanted list. 

Authorities apprehended Ermita Police Station’s most wanted suspect, identified as Jason Fullantes, last Friday (July 12) after he went into hiding for six months.

According to Moreno, an arrest warrant was issued against Fullantes last January 8, 2019 for the non-bailable offense of rape.

Meanwhile, Bob Navarro, Moriones Police Station’s fourth most wanted, was arrested over the weekend after 11 months in hiding.

Moreno said a warrant of arrest was issued against Navarro in August last year for the non-bailable offense of rape.

Police also arrested the eighth most wanted suspect of the Manila Police District, identified as Irwin Pelina, who was wanted for robbery with unnecessary violence.

Pelina went into hiding for one year and four months before he was arrested last Tuesday (July 9). An arrest warrant was issued against him in March 2018.

Three of Manila’s most wanted suspects hide their faces during a press conference at the Manila City Hall on Monday (July 15, 2019). Photo by Christia Marie Ramos/INQUIRER.net

“Tayo naman nirerespeto natin yung kanilang karapatan. They’re considered innocent so far, suspect,” Moreno said, noting the suspects covered faces as he presented them to the media.

“But hiding… ‘yung takbuhan mo ang batas… sila’y binibigyan ng pagkakataon na ipagtanggol ang kanilang sarili pero para ito’y (batas) takbuhan mo, eh hindi tayo papayag. Lalo ka nang madidiin. Ngayon mukha silang…not guilty, so far. But it is not for me to say so, it is the judge. Para yung sistema ng pamahalaan mapatupad ng pantay-pantay,” he further said. /je