Top most wanted man in Eastern Visayas arrested in Leyte town

TACLOBAN CITY – Police arrested a 50-year-old man wanted for five counts of qualified rape of a minor during a manhunt operation in Polompon, Leyte, on Thursday, Aug. 19.

Arrested was Lito Yaon Paghunasan, a construction worker and resident of Barangay Cabungaan, Sto. Niño, Samar, who was listed as the No. 1 most wanted person at the regional level by the Police Regional Office 8.

READ: 61 wanted persons arrested in Eastern Visayas anti-crime operations

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Police said Paghunasan was arrested at about 1:30 p.m. along Evangelista Street in Polompon by a team led by the Calbayog City police station, with support from police stations of Sto. Niño and Palompon, the Provincial Intelligence Unit, 1st Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Regional Intelligence Division.

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The arrest was carried out by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Aaron Go, acting presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 32 in Calbayog City, dated July 13, 2026.

The warrant covers five counts of qualified rape of a minor.

No bail was recommended for the accused.

He was brought to the Calbayog City police station for documentation and proper disposition before being presented to the court.

The arrest was part of the police’s continuing manhunt against wanted persons in Eastern Visayas. /jpv