The Northern Police District (NPD) arrested 18 wanted persons during a series of manhunt operations across northern Metro Manila over the past week, including several suspects facing murder, illegal drug and sexual offense charges.

Northern Police District director Brig. Gen. Benliner Capili said five suspects, ages 19 to 24, wanted on murder charges were arrested by operatives of the District Special Operations Unit.

The suspects were the subject of warrants issued by the Malabon Regional Trial Court Branch 180, where no bail was recommended.

Police said four of the suspects were residents of Barangay San Agustin, while another was from Barangay Ibaba, Malabon City. They were arrested at a hideout in Barangay Kaunlaran, Caloocan City.

In separate operations, Malabon police arrested three more murder suspects in Barangay Potrero.

The suspects included a 23-year-old barber, a Sangguniang Kabataan kagawad and a 24-year-old unemployed man, all of whom were wanted by courts in Malabon.

Malabon Police Substation 6 also arrested a 43-year-old fugitive facing illegal drug charges after receiving information on his whereabouts in Barangay San Agustin.

In Valenzuela City, officers from Police Substation 8 arrested a 41-year-old construction helper wanted for robbery under a warrant issued by the Rosario Regional Trial Court Branch 87 in Batangas.

Meanwhile, Navotas police arrested four men, ages 21, 25, 28 and 50, in separate operations in Barangay NBBS Dagat-Dagatan. The suspects were wanted for sexual assault and acts of lasciviousness.

All of the arrested suspects were placed in police custody and will be turned over to the courts that issued the warrants against them.