Police arrested six of Central Luzon’s regional most wanted fugitives in separate intelligence-driven operations on July 1, the Philippine National Police said.
The Police Regional Office 3 said the operations led to the arrest of the region’s No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 9 and No. 10 most wanted persons in Bulacan, Laguna, Pangasinan, Bataan and Nueva Ecija.
The arrested fugitives are facing charges for murder, rape, qualified rape, statutory rape, and rape by sexual assault. Police said the suspects were arrested by virtue of warrants issued by the courts, with no bail recommended in applicable cases.
Among those arrested was the No. 1 Regional Most Wanted Person, who is facing four counts of statutory rape. He was captured in Infanta, Pangasinan, in a joint operation led by the San Felipe Municipal Police Station, with support from the Regional Intelligence Unit 3, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Zambales, and other police units.
In Obando, Bulacan, police arrested the No. 2 Regional Most Wanted Person, who is facing three counts of rape. The operation was carried out by the Obando Municipal Police Station Tracker Team, with intelligence support from the Provincial Intelligence Team Bulacan West and RIU3.
The No. 3 Regional Most Wanted Person, who is wanted for qualified rape, was arrested in Alaminos, Laguna, through the combined efforts of the Casiguran Municipal Police Station, Aurora police units, and the Alaminos Municipal Police Station.
Police also arrested the No. 4 Regional Most Wanted Person in Valenzuela City. The suspect, who is facing a murder charge, was captured by personnel of the San Jose del Monte City Police Station Warrant Section, PIT Bulacan East, RIU3, and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3.
In Balanga City, Bataan, police arrested the No. 10 Regional Most Wanted Person, who is wanted for rape by sexual assault. The operation was conducted by the Balanga City Police Station, RIU3, and the Provincial Intelligence Unit Bataan.
In Nueva Ecija, the No. 9 Regional Most Wanted Person, who was also listed as the No. 1 City Most Wanted Person of Palayan City, was arrested in General Mamerto Natividad. Police said the suspect is facing a rape case under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code.
The arrested fugitives were placed under police custody for documentation and proper legal disposition.
“The arrest of these six high-ranking fugitives reflects the PNP’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that individuals charged with grave offenses are brought before the courts. We will continue to strengthen intelligence and law enforcement efforts to keep dangerous offenders from evading justice,” PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said.
Nartatez said the arrests were part of the PNP’s intensified campaign against wanted persons through intelligence-led law enforcement operations.
“Hindi kami titigil hangga’t hindi nahaharap sa batas ang mga taong pinaghahanap dahil sa mabibigat na krimen. Patuloy naming paiigtingin ang aming operasyon upang maprotektahan ang bawat komunidad at matiyak na naipatutupad ang batas,” Nartatez added.
The PNP said it would continue to pursue wanted persons under its campaign for “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong mabilis, tapat, at nararamdaman.”