ORMOC CITY— A provincial most wanted person facing multiple sexual abuse charges was arrested in a joint police operation in Naval, Biliran on the afternoon of May 8, 2026.
Police identified the suspect as Eric Antonio, 37, a farmer and resident of Naval, Biliran, who was listed as Rank No. 2 Most Wanted Person at the provincial level.
The arrest was carried out at around 5:00 p.m. in Sitio Magtaran-an, Barangay Talustusan, Naval, through the coordinated efforts of the Naval Municipal Police Station, Regional Intelligence Unit 8 (RIU-8), Biliran Police Intelligence Unit, Provincial Intelligence and Detective Management Unit, and the Biliran Provincial Mobile Force Company.
Authorities said the operation was based on standing warrants of arrest issued on April 24, 2026, by Acting Presiding Judge Thea Gicela Casas Nueve-Zamora of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 16, Naval, Biliran.
The suspect is facing 10 counts of statutory rape under Article 266-A (1)(d) of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 11684, with no bail recommended. He is also facing three counts of acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 5(b) of Republic Act No. 7610, with bail set at P540,000.
Following his arrest, he was brought to the Naval Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA
