A 22-year-old habal-habal driver wanted over two counts of statutory rape was arrested during a police operation in Talisay City, Cebu, nearly two years after the alleged offenses were reported.
Police arrested Kent Leonard Bucao, also known as “Samyong,” at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Camp 6, Barangay Manipis, Talisay City. He is a resident of Canapnapan 1, Barangay Camp 8, Toledo City.
Bucao was apprehended by the tracker team of the Toledo City Police Station while authorities were serving two warrants of arrest for statutory rape. The warrants were issued on Sept. 22, 2026, by Judge Judilyn Hugo Tapia-Menchavez of the Family Court, Branch 8 in Toledo City.
The warrants reportedly carry no recommended bail, meaning Bucao cannot secure temporary freedom through bail while the cases are being processed. Police said he did not resist arrest and surrendered peacefully when officers arrived.
According to the investigation, the alleged offenses involved a minor and occurred on two separate occasions in Barangay Camp 8, Toledo City.
The first incident was reported to have occurred at around 6 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2024. Authorities said Bucao allegedly offered the victim a ride on his motorcycle and brought the minor toward the home of the suspect’s grandparent, where the alleged assault took place. The victim also reported being threatened with harm if the incident was disclosed.
A second alleged incident occurred on Jan. 15, 2025, at around 4 p.m. Investigators said the victim was walking to a nearby store when Bucao allegedly forced the minor to ride his motorcycle and again brought the victim to the same residence.
The victim and the victim’s mother later formally reported the alleged incidents to police, leading to the filing of the cases and eventual issuance of the arrest warrants.
Bucao is now in police custody as authorities process the cases. The allegations remain subject to the judicial process, where the prosecution will have to establish the charges with evidence in court.
The arrest brings an end to the period during which the accused remained wanted, but the legal proceedings over the two statutory rape charges will now determine the outcome of the cases.
