Nueva Ecija police net 13 in provincewide manhunt

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — The Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO) has launched a sweeping law enforcement operation that resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals, including several top-ranked wanted persons in the province, along with the seizure of illegal drugs and firearms and the voluntary surrender of a loose firearm.

Police said multiple units across Nueva Ecija carried out coordinated operations targeting high-value suspects and street-level criminal activity.

In San Jose City, authorities arrested the city’s Top 3 carnapping suspect, who is also the province’s Top 5 most wanted person and faces robbery and theft charges.

In Cabanatuan City, police arrested the provincial Top 2 wanted person, who is also the city’s Top 1 suspect and faces two counts of qualified rape of a minor. Another suspect, listed as provincial Top 9 and city Top 2, was also arrested for drug-related offenses.

Separate operations in Quezon and Gapan City led to the arrest of the provincial Top 3 and Top 4 wanted persons, respectively, both facing qualified rape charges.

Municipal Top 1 wanted persons from Cabiao, Peñaranda, Jaen and Pantabangan were likewise apprehended for offenses ranging from theft and robbery to acts of lasciviousness.

Police also arrested two drug suspects in separate buy-bust operations in San Leonardo and Jaen. In Carranglan, a concerned citizen voluntarily surrendered a .22-caliber firearm to police.

In another incident, a 39-year-old man was arrested at a checkpoint in Bongabon after authorities found him in possession of a .38-caliber firearm, ammunition and a bladed weapon.

NEPPO Provincial Director Heryl Bruno said the operations demonstrate the police force’s sustained efforts against crime.

The crackdown, conducted earlier this month, underscores NEPPO’s commitment to pursuing high-priority fugitives while addressing street-level criminality across the province, Bruno said.