Pangasinan’s most wanted rape suspect arrested

MANILA, Philippines—After almost a decade of hiding, a 38-year old fugitive accused of rape in Pangasinan province has been arrested in Palawan, a Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) official said Friday.

In a report to CIDG chief, Police Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr., Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Divina, Region 1 CIDG chief, said that authorities arrested Lord Menar, around 1 p.m. Thursday in Taytay, Palawan.

He was arrested based on a February 2002 warrant of arrest issued by Judge Jules Mejia of Branch 54 of the Regional Trial Court of Alaminos City, Pangasinan for three counts of rape with no bail bond recommended.

Divina said that Menar was the most wanted person in the region with P200,000 bounty offered for his arrest. He went into hiding in Palawan 10 years ago after rape charges were filed against him.

He said that Menar was located through information on his whereabouts provided by a member of the Community Investigative Support.

After securing a warrant of arrest, joint CIDG operatives aided by local police arrested the suspect, he said.

Pagdilao Jr. said that Menar is now under the custody of Taytay Municipal Police Station in Palawan and will be brought to Pangasinan CIDG prior to his turn-over to the court.