The Police Regional Office 1 (PRO 1) arrested four of the Ilocos Region's most wanted persons and seized more than P422,000 worth of suspected shabu in separate law enforcement operations conducted this week.

PRO 1 said coordinated manhunt operations on Monday led to the arrest of four fugitives in Benguet and Pangasinan.

In Mankayan, Benguet, a joint team from the Sugpon Municipal Police Station (MPS), Mankayan MPS, Benguet Police Provincial Office, Ilocos Sur Police Intelligence Unit, Ilocos Sur Police Drug Enforcement Unit, and Alilem MPS arrested Ilocos Sur's fourth most wanted person.

The suspect, a laborer residing in Mankayan, is facing charges for alleged violation of Section 16, Article II of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, involving the cultivation of dangerous plants.

In Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, police arrested the province's sixth most wanted person, who is facing multiple charges for alleged violations of Sections 5, 11, and 15 of RA 9165, as well as Section 28, Article V of RA 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Also on Monday, personnel of the Balungao MPS apprehended Pangasinan's eighth most wanted person, who is facing three counts of rape and rape through sexual assault.

Meanwhile, joint operatives from the Pozorrubio MPS, Regional Intelligence Unit 1, Provincial Intelligence Unit, and the Highway Patrol Group arrested the municipality's top most wanted person in connection with a carnapping case.

In a separate anti-illegal drugs operation on Tuesday, the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 1, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office 1 and other law enforcement units, arrested two high-value individuals during a buy-bust operation in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

Operatives confiscated 62.18 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, with an estimated street value of P422,824.

Also participating in the operation were the Regional Intelligence Division 1, PDEA Pangasinan, the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit 1, the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office's intelligence and drug enforcement units, and the Urdaneta City Police Station.

The suspects, who are residents of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, and Mangaldan, Pangasinan, were found in possession of a large heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing the suspected illegal drugs.

All arrested individuals are under the custody of their respective police units pending documentation, inquest proceedings, and the filing of appropriate charges.

PRO 1 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Jovencio S. Badua Jr. said the successful operations underscore the regional police's intensified campaign against criminality under its Enhanced A.L.E.R.T.O. Framework, which emphasizes intelligence-driven coordination among law enforcement agencies.

Badua said PRO 1 remains committed to tracking down wanted persons, intensifying anti-illegal drug operations, and sustaining peace and order across the Ilocos Region.