ORMOC CITY– Police authorities in Leyte intensified their campaign against wanted persons with the arrest of two regional most wanted persons (MWPs) facing serious charges involving rape and child abuse during separate operations on June 1, 2026.
The most significant arrest involved the capture of Joben Dalantera,36, the region’s No. 1 most wanted person, who was apprehended at around 8:30 p.m. in Barangay Olotan, Jaro, Leyte.
Dalantera is facing three counts of rape and was arrested on the strength of a warrant issued on May 14, 2026, by Judge Manasseh Sumayo Bastes, acting presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 34, Tacloban City. No bail was recommended for his temporary liberty.
The operation was led by personnel of the Jaro Municipal Police Station, with support from the Regional Intelligence Division 8, Provincial Intelligence Unit, 2nd Leyte Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the 805th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8. Following his arrest, Dalantera was taken to the Jaro Municipal Police Station pending further legal proceedings.
Earlier that day, at around 11:30 a.m., authorities arrested Pablo Sab Andoy, 40, listed as the region’s No. 10 Most Wanted Person, in Barangay Causwagan, MacArthur, Leyte. Andoy, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Tagum City, Davao del Norte, was apprehended by members of the MacArthur Municipal Police Station Support Unit in coordination with the Tagum City Police Station.
Andoy was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued on February 24, 2026, by Judge Jimmy Bustillo Boco, presiding judge of the Family Court, Branch 2, Eleventh Judicial Region, Tagum City. He is facing seven counts of lascivious conduct under Section 5(b) of Republic Act No. 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. The court recommended bail of P200,000 for each count. He was subsequently turned over to the Tagum City Police Station for proper disposition.
Police officials said the successful operations demonstrate the sustained efforts of law enforcement agencies to track down and arrest individuals wanted for grave offenses, ensuring that they are brought before the courts to answer the charges filed against them.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
