CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — The Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO) recently carried out a sweeping operation that led to the arrest of 13 individuals, including some of the province’s top-ranked wanted persons. The operation also resulted in the seizure of drugs and weapons, and even a voluntary firearm surrender.

Multiple police units worked across the province to apprehend key suspects.

In San Jose City, authorities arrested the city’s Top 3 carnapping suspect, who is also provincial Top 5 wanted for robbery and theft.

In Cabanatuan City, the provincial Top 2 (and city Top 1) suspect facing two counts of qualified rape of a minor was collared, along with the provincial Top 9 (city Top 2) drug suspect.

Meanwhile, Quezon and Gapan City police took in the provincial Top 3 and Top 4 suspects, both facing qualified rape charges.

Top wanted individuals from Cabiao, Peñaranda, Jaen and Pantabangan were also apprehended for crimes ranging from theft and robbery to acts of lasciviousness.

In separate operations, two drug suspects were caught in buy-busts in San Leonardo and Jaen. A concerned citizen voluntarily surrendered a .22-caliber firearm to Carranglan police, while a 39-year-old man was arrested at a Bongabon checkpoint for carrying a .38-caliber gun, ammunition and a bladed weapon.

NEPPO Provincial Director PCol. Heryl “Daguit” L. Bruno said the operation shows that the police remain relentless in going after those who threaten communities. “This crackdown underscores our commitment to targeting both high-priority fugitives and street-level crime,” he added.

Rape suspect falls

In Batangas, a 40-year-old man, listed as Guimba town’s fourth most wanted, is now in police custody following a pre-dawn operation on Tuesday, the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) reported.

Police from Guimba Municipal Station (Nueva Ecija) teamed up with Rosario MPS (Batangas), the 303rd Maneuver Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3, and the 3rd Forward Operating Base of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company to track the suspect in Barangay Namunga, Rosario.

The operation, which started around 1 a.m., targeted the man who faces three counts of rape. A warrant from the Regional Trial Court Branch 31 in Guimba carries no bail.

NEPPO chief PCol Heryl “Daguit” L. Bruno said the arrest shows law enforcement doesn’t stop at provincial borders. “Those who flee will not outrun accountability,” he said.