11 years on the run:  Uncle accused of raping minor niece in Mt. Province finally arrested

Tabuk City, Kalinga -  More than ten years after a young girl in Mt. Province allegedly suffered  sexual abuse from the hands of her uncle, the perpetrator was finally arrested earlier this week. 

According to the report of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) through its Facebook page, police operatives conducted a manhunt operation on June 8, 2026, in General Nakar, Quezon Province, that resulted in the capture of the suspect identified as alias "Tino." 

As cited, the incident happened in 2015, when the victim was a Grade 6 pupil at the time. 

Tino allegedly grabbed the victim and took her to the storage room of their house at Sitio Lumyeng, Lacman, Mountain Province, where he raped the innocent child and then threatened her not to reveal what had happened. 

The child kept silent for years, bearing the pain and trauma silently. 

In 2022, seven years after the tragedy she met, the victim finally had the courage to disclose the incident to her father. The father then reported and filed formal complaints to the authorities. 

Months later, on September 8, 2022, the Regional Trial Court in Bontoc issued warrants of arrest against Tino for three counts of qualified statutory rape and two counts of acts of lasciviousness in relation to Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. 

No bail was recommended for the rape charges, while bail for the acts of lasciviousness cases was fixed at ₱200,000. 

By then, however, Tino had fled Mt. Province. The report from the CIDG indicated that he moved between remote areas of the Sierra Madre mountain range, particularly in General Nakar, Quezon, and Tanay, Rizal. 

His years on the run landed him as No. 8 National Most Wanted Person with a P150,000 monetary reward pursuant to Memorandum Circular of the DFepartment of Interior and Local Government (DILG ). 

Nevertheless, through continuous monitoring and intelligence gathering, law enforcement units tracked the suspect to his hideout in General Nakar, where he was apprehended on June 8 this year. 

In a statement, the CIDG said the successful arrest of the fugitive is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the law enforcement agency to accounting for and capturing all wanted persons. 

“It further solidifies the Group's solemn pledge to shield and protect women and children from all forms of violence and abuse—especially minors and innocent children. With this critical arrest, the Unit has significantly aided the minor victim in attaining the absolute justice she rightfully deserves, the CIDG, headed by Director PMGEN Robert AA Morico II, added.