A pastor and his wife charged for the molestation of a 16-year-old high school student, and a Bago resident accused of raping his niece, were arrested separately in the upland areas of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, the police said yesterday.

Nabbed by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Moises Nifras in Brgy. Prosperidad, San Carlos City on Nov. 22 were Efren Tachado, 41, a pastor of the Christian and Ministry Alliance, and his wife, Shalem, 39.

Senior Inspector Victorino Romanillos, acting police chief of San Carlos, yesterday said the Tachado couple was charged in court for three counts of sexual abuse, under Section 5(b), Article 3 of RA 7610.

Police investigations show that the victim who was staying at the house of the couple, was allegedly molested twice by Efren on Jan. 29 and Feb. 14 this year.

The molestation of the high school student, whose identity is being withheld by the DAILY STAR, was witnessed by Efren's wife Shalem, who even encouraged the girl to give in to the sexual desires of her husband, the police said.

Nifras has recommended bail of P200,000 each for the accused couple, who are now detained at the San Carlos BJMP.

SPO2 Isabelita Dioso, chief of the Bago City Women's and Children Protection Desk, also reported yesterday the arrest of Armando Mamar, 46, who is facing rape charges, in Brgy. Codcod, San Carlos City.

Mamar was apprehended by a combined team of Bago policemen and troopers of the 604th Regional Mobile Group by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Henry Trocino for the crime of rape, Dioso said.

Police investigations show that Mamar fled to Brgy. Codcod, San Carlos City, after molesting his own six-year-old niece in 2003.

Trocino has recommended P100,000 bail for Mamar who is now detained at the Bago BJMP.

Meanwhile, two other persons charged for violation of RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002, were also arrested by the police in Bago City.

Nabbed by SPO2 Ramon Garalda were Jerry de los Santos, 20, and James Vargas, 19. The court also recommended bail of P120,000 each for de los Santos and Vargas.*GPB

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