SINILOAN, Laguna — Police authorities in Laguna arrested a regional-level most wanted suspect in a manhunt operation conducted Saturday evening, February 22, 2026, in Barangay Halayhayin, Siniloan.

The suspect, identified only as alias “Mark,” 21 years old and a resident of Siniloan, was apprehended by operatives of the Siniloan Municipal Police Station. The operation was carried out under a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 166 in Siniloan for two counts of statutory rape, a non-bailable offense under Philippine law.

According to Laguna police officials, the arrest followed the successful tracking of the suspect’s whereabouts. Authorities said the accused was informed of the reason for his arrest and his constitutional rights, including protection under the Anti-Torture Act of 2009, and the operation was documented using an alternative recording device in accordance with police procedures.

The suspect is now under the custody of the Siniloan Municipal Police Station while the court that issued the warrant has been notified of the arrest.

Police emphasized that the capture is meant to assure the victim and their family that accountability will be pursued and justice will move forward. Yet arrests in cases involving sexual crimes, particularly those involving minors, represent only the first step in a long and emotionally difficult process. Legal proceedings can take time, and healing often extends far beyond the courtroom.

The incident also highlights a broader social issue: while authorities pursue offenders after crimes occur, prevention, education, and community vigilance remain critical in protecting vulnerable individuals. So the question arises: Is justice achieved at the moment of arrest, or only when prevention becomes strong enough that such crimes rarely happen at all?

(Larawan mula sa: Pulis ng Laguna / Facebook)