ANTIQUE — The long-running manhunt for Antique’s No. 1 provincial-level most wanted person has ended after police arrested a 57-year-old man in Barbaza on August 27.
The suspect, identified only by authorities as alias “Toto,” was apprehended at around 11:30 a.m. in Sitio Aligtos, Barangay Igpalge, Barbaza, during a coordinated manhunt operation.
Police said “Toto” is a married, unemployed resident of Barangay Mayos, also in Barbaza.
His arrest was carried out by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 64 in Bugasong, Antique, on February 25, 2026.
Authorities said the warrant stemmed from charges involving statutory rape and violation of Section 5(b) of Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. The court did not recommend bail for the charges.
COORDINATED MANHUNT LED TO ARREST
The operation was spearheaded by the Barbaza Municipal Police Station, working with the Antique Provincial Intelligence Team, Regional Intelligence Unit 6, Antique Police Intelligence Unit, 2nd Antique Provincial Mobile Force Company and Antique MARPSTA.
The arrest is part of the Police Regional Office 6’s continuing campaign to locate wanted individuals across Western Visayas, particularly suspects facing serious criminal charges.
PRO-6 Director Brig. Gen. Randulf T. Tuaño said police would continue strengthening intelligence-led and coordinated operations against wanted persons.
He also called on individuals with outstanding warrants to voluntarily surrender and face their cases through the proper legal process.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Following his arrest, “Toto” was placed under the custody of the Barbaza Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition before being turned over to the court that issued the warrant.
Importantly, the suspect remains an accused person and is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.
The arrest nevertheless represents another significant development in PRO-6’s intensified campaign against wanted persons in Western Visayas.
Earlier this year, PRO-6 also reported multiple arrests involving most-wanted individuals across the region. In May, police said six most-wanted persons were apprehended or surrendered during separate operations conducted within a 24-hour period.
In another July operation, the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group reported the arrest of a Top 1 municipal-level most wanted person in Iloilo who was facing a syndicated illegal recruitment case, highlighting the continuing region-wide focus on fugitives with outstanding warrants.
For Antique, however, the latest arrest removes the province’s No. 1 provincial-level most wanted person from the police watchlist—at least for this particular case.
The arrest also sends a clear message from authorities: being listed among the region’s most wanted does not mean remaining beyond the reach of law enforcement.
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