By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

A 19-year-old man wanted for 25 counts of acts of lasciviousness and statutory rape was arrested at Barangay Tapon Norte in Negros Oriental’s San Jose town on Tuesday, June 16.

Negros Island Region’s (NIR) No. 9 most wanted person, alias “Chris,” a resident of Barangay Siapo’s Purok Avocado in the town, was arrested during an Oplan Tracker operation by police operatives.

Lt. Colonel Joem Malong, public information office chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in NIR, said “Chris,” together with his co-accused, allegedly molested their minor victim.

Malong said the successful arrest underscores their unwavering commitment to relentlessly pursue fugitives and ensure that those who violate the law are brought before the courts.

Through intensified manhunt operations and the continued implementation of the SAFE NIR program, she added that PRO-NIR remains steadfast in fostering safer communities, strengthening public trust and delivering responsive and intelligence-driven policing./MAP, WDJ