By Alexander Lopez
BUTUAN CITY — Police in the Caraga region arrested 186 wanted suspects, including high-profile criminals and a communist rebel, during intensified manhunt operations from March 1 to 25, authorities reported Friday.
The Police Regional Office-13 (PRO-13) confirmed that 40 of those apprehended were on its most-wanted list, while 146 faced other outstanding warrants.
Notable arrests included: “Joe”, 31, the region’s 5th most-wanted, captured March 12 in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte for sexually assaulting his 12-year-old niece; “Nel”, 32, Surigao del Sur’s 3rd most-wanted, arrested March 24 in Madrid town for molesting a junior high school student; and “Arjun”, 27, a New People’s Army fighter and Surigao del Sur’s top fugitive, apprehended March 25 in San Miguel while facing seven charges, including murder.
Surigao del Sur police led the operations with 47 arrests, followed by Butuan City and Agusan del Sur (36 each). Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands police accounted for 35, 25, and seven arrests, respectively.
“The public can expect more operations as we’re prioritizing cases involving violence against women and children,” PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano said, adding the arrests addressed 3 percent of the region’s outstanding warrants. (PNA)
