ORMOC CITY— Police arrested in Surigao del Sur a 53-year-old farmer from Albuera, Leyte, who is listed as the region’s top most wanted person in connection with multiple counts of qualified rape.
Johnny Cayanong, a resident of Barangay Balugo Uno, Albuera, Leyte, was arrested at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, September 3, in Purok 7, Barangay Banahao, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
Police said the arrest was carried out by virtue of a warrant issued on October 23, 2024, by Judge Carlos Arguelles, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Baybay City.
The operation was led by personnel of the 1st Law Enforcement and Public Safety Mobile Force Company (1st LPMFC), with assistance from the Lianga Municipal Police Station, Albuera Municipal Police Station, Regional Intelligence Unit 8-Criminal Investigation Task Force (RIU8-CIT) Ormoc, and Anti-Kidnapping Group-Visayas Field Unit (AKG-VFU) Ormoc Satellite.
Cayanong is facing three counts of qualified rape by sexual assault, with a recommended bail of P600,000.
He is also facing a separate count of qualified rape for which the court recommended no bail.
After his arrest, Cayanong was brought to the Lianga Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition.
Police said the arrest resulted from coordination among law enforcement units in Eastern Visayas and the Caraga region in locating Cayanong, who was identified as the region’s top most wanted person in connection with the cases filed against him.
(ELVIE ROA)
