The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it is tracking down former BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag and other high-profile fugitives, stressing that arrest operations are being carried out “deliberately” and by the book despite reports placing Bantag in the Cordillera region.

In a Palace press briefing, PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police will not rush in based solely on tips, underscoring the need to strictly follow procedures in serving warrants of arrest.

“Of course, sinabi ko nga, may procedures tayo in implementing warrant of arrest. Hindi naman basta-basta kapag may information pumunta dito sa isang lugar, susugod kaagad tayo (Of course, as I said, we have procedures for implementing a warrant of arrest. We don’t just rush in immediately whenever we receive information about someone’s location),” he explained. 

Nartatez noted that Bantag is not alone in the case, with four co-accused also facing warrants. 

“Our operations will be deliberate at inaayos po natin (and we are doing it in order),” he emphasized.

Nartatez recalled that two of those named were previously arrested in Lipa City during his stint as NCRPO regional director, highlighting the PNP’s track record in pursuing suspects across regions.

The PNP chief said the manhunt is part of a broader nationwide drive, revealing that over 200,000 individuals are currently covered by warrants of arrest. 

Of those, around 110,000 have already been arrested in 2025 alone.

“Gumagalaw po ang ating PNP… day after day, week by week, month after month (Our PNP is constantly on the move… day after day, week after week, month after month),” he said.

“Hindi po natutulog ang ating pulis (Our police never sleep).”

On fugitives believed to be abroad, including former lawmaker Zaldy Co and former presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque, Nartatez said the PNP is coordinating with international police partners under existing agreements to facilitate arrests and possible return to the Philippines.

“We have other partners, stakeholders, especially the international partners abroad, we have international police to help us, we have a memorandum of agreement and understanding with them for implementation of a warrant of arrest, and these are functioning,” he noted. 

However, Nartatez admitted that as of now, there is no confirmed information from international partners on the exact locations of these personalities.

Still, the PNP chief maintained that the pressure is on — and that arrests are only a matter of time.

“Once na makita natin/pinpoint exactly kung nasaan sila and gagawin po natin na makuha sila and of course by due process (Once we are able to locate and pinpoint exactly where they are, we will take steps to apprehend them, of course, in accordance with due process),” he said.