ORMOC CITY — A 73-year-old man listed as the Rank 4 Most Wanted Person (provincial level) was arrested in a law enforcement operation in Barangay Bagabao, Leyte, Leyte, on Wednesday evening, April 22, 2026.
The suspect, identified as Florencio Gomez, a resident of the same municipality, was apprehended at around 6:10 p.m. by joint operatives of the Philippine National Police through the Leyte Municipal Police Station, in coordination with the Regional Intelligence Unit 8, Provincial Intelligence Unit, 2nd Leyte Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Northern Leyte Provincial Field Unit.
Authorities said the arrest was carried out by virtue of a warrant issued on April 10, 2026, by the Regional Trial Court Branch 13 in Carigara, Leyte, for the crime of qualified rape. The court did not recommend bail.
Police said the operation was based on intelligence monitoring and coordination among various law enforcement units to locate the accused, who had been listed as one of the province’s most wanted individuals.
The suspect is currently under the custody of the Leyte Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and legal proceedings.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
