Engineer, wanted for rapes, arrested in QC

MANILA, Philippines - A 47-year-old engineer, wanted for raping at least three teenage girls, was arrested in Quezon City yesterday morning.

Gardonio Macato, who is Romblon’s most wanted and MIMAROPA’s second most wanted fugitive, was caught in front of a convenience store at the intersection of Tandang Sora and Mindanao Avenues, according to Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao.

Police officers confiscated a hand grenade from the suspect, he added.

Pagdilao said Macato was arrested after a tricycle driver told police the suspect pointed a gun at him while he was in a Toyota Innova (ZEM-584) Wednesday night.

Macato told reporters yesterday that he has taken illegal drugs but denied raping the girls, aged 13 to 15, whom he described as his “scholars.”

Records show that Macato is wanted for three cases of rape and child abuse.