CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — In a display of modern policing, the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) tracked down and arrested all individuals on its February Top 10 Regional Most Wanted list between 1 and 3 February, a feat officials attributed to tight coordination, data-driven tactics, and cyber monitoring that mirrors how criminals operate today.
The swift operations relied on a mix of intelligence operatives, tracker teams, and cyber patrollers who combined groundwork with digital analysis to locate fugitives and carry out arrests without incident, PRO3 said in a statement.
Real-time validation of information and targeted movements allowed police units to cover multiple areas across Central Luzon efficiently, it added.
“Hindi ito tsamba—ito ay bunga ng maayos na intelligence work, tamang koordinasyon, at responsableng paggamit ng teknolohiya,” PRO3 Director Ponce Rogelio I. Peñones Jr. said, stressing that the accomplishment was no accident.
The regional director noted that cyber patrollers have become critical in tracking suspects who use digital platforms to evade arrest. “As criminals evolve, so must the police,” he said.
The accomplishment supports the Philippine National Police’s focused agenda under Chief PNP Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., reinforcing crime suppression efforts and public trust. PRO3 also assured residents that there are no safe havens for fugitives in the region.
However, reactions on the ground were mixed. In interviews with the Daily Tribune, a tricycle driver from San Fernando, Pampanga, who requested anonymity, said: “Nakakatuwang makita na ganyan at nahuhuli talaga sila, pero parang ’di naman tayo umayos eh. Maraming krimen here and there—minsan kahit sa umaga pa lang ay takot na kaming maglakad sa ilang daanan.”
Another resident from Bulacan raised concerns about accountability within the force. “Sus, paano naman ang daming pulis gumagawa ng krimen ngayon. Dito nga lang sa amin, maraming kalokohan ang mga pulis. Malaking bagay kung nahuhuli talaga sila, pero sana huwag mag-cover up kung pulis ang gumagawa ng krimen,” the resident said.
Meanwhile, most comments on PRO3’s official Facebook page reflected optimism mixed with calls for broader action, including messages praising police efforts while urging authorities to pursue not only low-level offenders but also powerful figures accused of abuse.
Peñones said public concerns are being taken seriously, noting that internal affairs units are actively investigating reports of police misconduct in the region. He added that PRO3 intends to sustain the momentum of its operations, with a new list of most wanted persons expected to be released by mid-February.