2 suspected rapists arrested

Two men wanted for rape have been arrested by operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) during separate operations in Malabon and Pasig City.

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol said the arrest of Reynaldo Villarosa, alias Boy Laki, 54, and Ronald Abad, 32, showed that the NCRPO has not neglected anti-crime operations amid security preparations for Labor Day.

Villarosa, a hog raiser, yielded an undocumented caliber .45 automatic pistol with three loaded magazines, when collared by agents of the Regional Intelligence and Special Operation Office (RISOO) along Anonas Road, Barangay Anonas, Potrero at 12:30 a.m. the other day.

"He threw away the firearm when he saw my men approaching," said Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., RISOO chief, adding that Villarosa failed to present documents authorizing him to carry firearms outside his residence.

Ramos said his men were armed with an arrest warrant issued by Judge Benjamin Antonio of the National Capital Judicial Region (NCJR) Branch 170 for the killing of one Jessie Baston last March 21, 2002 in Malabon.

Court records showed that with intent to kill, treachery and evident premeditation, Villarosa stabbed Baston in the stomach.

In his report to Querol, Ramos said Villarosa is also facing another murder charge, and charges of frustrated murder and homicide and statutory rape before the Caloocan City and Malabon courts.

Meanwhile, Abad was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Felix Reyes of the NCJR Branch 272 for raping his housemaid on June 18, 2001.

Abad, a concession manager, did not resist arrest when cornered by RISOO agents at his house in Barangay San Miguel in Pasig City at 8 p.m. last Friday.

Abad denied raping his maid.

Both Villarosa and Abad are currently detained at RISOO headquarters inside Camp Bagong Diwa,Taguig City pending their turnover to the custody of the courts. — Non Alquitran