Thirteen wanted individuals, including two high-ranking most wanted persons, were arrested in a series of coordinated manhunt operations conducted by the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) across Eastern Visayas on 7 September.

The operations formed part of PRO-8’s intensified campaign against criminality, targeting individuals with standing warrants of arrest across the region.

Among those apprehended was the region’s Rank 2 Most Wanted Person (MWP), who was arrested in Julita, Leyte by joint operatives from the Julita Municipal Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Team Leyte, Regional Intelligence Unit 8, Provincial Intelligence Unit Leyte, and tracker teams from the Taytay Municipal Police Station in Rizal.

The suspect was arrested by virtue of a warrant for two counts of statutory rape, with no bail recommended.

In Calbayog City, Samar, authorities also arrested the Rank 3 Provincial MWP of Samar in an intelligence-driven operation. The operation involved the 1st Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company, Calbayog City Police Station, Regional Intelligence Division-Regional Special Operations Unit 8, WSPFU-CIDG, Provincial Intelligence Unit Samar, and Task Force “KAMURAYAW.”

The suspect is facing a frustrated murder charge, with bail set at P200,000.

The regionwide operations also resulted in the arrest of 11 other wanted individuals facing various criminal charges. Three were arrested in Tacloban City, three in Leyte, three in Samar, one in Eastern Samar, and one in Biliran.

All 13 suspects were subjected to proper documentation and processing and remain under the custody of their respective arresting units pending the appropriate legal proceedings.

Police Brig. Gen. Romano V. Cardiño, regional director of PRO-8, commended the participating units for their coordination and efforts in tracking down wanted individuals.

“The simultaneous arrest of these wanted individuals reflects our relentless drive to keep Eastern Visayas safe,” Cardiño said, warning those evading the law that PRO-8 would continue its operations to bring them before the courts and pursue justice for victims.