As directed by Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz
TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas has netted 277 wanted persons with warrants of arrest in a record-breaking one-week operation that started on September 17.
Among those arrested during their massive operations were 20 of the most wanted persons in the region, Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz, police regional director, said.
Cruz said that he issued an order to arrest those with outstanding warrants as he noticed that when he assumed his post on August 30, a huge number of wanted persons across the region still remain at large.
The arrested suspects were involved in various crimes ranging from murder, drug-related cases, rape, and robbery, among others.
About 36 were arrested for theft; 32 for murder; 29 for homicide; 18 for rape; 13 for robbery 13 and 11 physical injuries.
Meanwhile, 130 wanted persons were arrested for violations of special laws or non-index crimes.
The Leyte Police Provincial Office got the highest number of arrests at 97 followed by Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office with 38 and Samar Police Provincial Office with 33 arrests.
In the municipal level, Dulag, Leyte netted seven persons, the highest in the municipal and city level.
Cruz showed appreciation to the informants for their courage and cooperation with the police leading the arrests of these wanted persons and put them behind bars.
The arrest is remarkable and showed a 500% increase from those combined arrested between January 2017 to August 2017, Cruz said.
(VICKY C. ARNAIZ)
