MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)–After a month-long intelligence operation, the Bukidnon Police Provincial Office (BPPO) arrested Mayor Miguel Silva Jr. of Pangantucan, Bukidnon, Sunday night, February 2 at Purok 1, Poblacion, Compostela, Davao de Oro.
In a press briefing, Police Colonel Jovit L. Culaway confirmed that officers nabbed Silva without resistance at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Compostela, where he was with another person.
“We knew he had the resources to evade. We carried out the arrest with precision through intelligence-driven operations. We tracked his movements, noting that he typically traveled from 1:30 to 2:00 AM when returning to Bukidnon. His elusive actions made surveillance difficult, but BPPO’s relentless efforts ensured his capture,” Culaway said.
Police officers apprehended 59-year-old Silva on an arrest warrant dated December 10, 2024, issued by Judge Maria Theresa Camannong of Branch 9, Regional Trial Court, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, for two counts of sexual assault and statutory rape.
The court set bail at P100,000 for the sexual assault charges but denied any bail for the statutory rape case.
As a fugitive, Silva frequently changed locations, staying only two or three days in each spot. Despite intensified checkpoints, he evaded arrest. However, his prolonged stay of nearly a month in his Compostela Valley rest house allowed authorities to trap him.
The operation succeeded through seamless coordination among multiple agencies, including Bukidnon Provincial Intelligence Unit, Bukidnon 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, Bukidnon Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bukidnon, Compostela Municipal Police Station, and the PIU-District Drug Enforcement Operations Police Office.
Following his arrest, authorities transferred Silva to CIDG Bukidnon for documentation and processing.
The BPPO provincial director lauded the dedication of the police workforce, emphasizing the value of community cooperation.
“Silva’s capture exemplifies BPPO’s intelligence-driven operations, proving that no one—regardless of status—can escape the long arm of the law,” the Bukidnon PNP director said. (BGE/PIA 10/Bukidnon)
