MEMBERS of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) had arrested 21 wanted persons during its Oplan Kalinaw operation in seven barangays here in Davao City last week.

DCPO spokesperson Senior Inspector Maria Teresita Gaspan said Oplan Kalinaw is a joint area security and community service protection operation of the Davao police.

Gaspan said this operation aims to conduct a background check and profiling of the transient residents in urban poor communities and arrest persons with arrest warrants.

Aside from profiling and manhunt operation, Gaspan said, the operation also aims to hold a community outreach and community empowerment by crime prevention education.

Arrested were Roger Pento, Jestony Ilagan, Emmanuel Alesna, Estrella Esfener, Dina Madelo, Geralyn dela Rosa, Kenneth Berbanio, Jhimbo C. Paraiso, and Giovannie Picache; Patrick Angcoy, Basildes Fiel, Jerico Quijada, Virgilio Quijada, Louie Margate, Angelito Ubalde, Angelica Rios, Anthony Tan Castillo, Efve Alquizar, Jesus Cabudlan, and Julito Munling.

The arrested wanted persons are facing charges for estafa through falsification of public documents, sexual abuse/rape, acts of lasciviousness, illegal gambling, attempted murder, grave coercion and threat, and qualified theft.

Gaspan said the series of operations resulted in the background check and profiling of about 1,180 residents, of which 1,117 of them has identification card (ID) and 63 do not have IDs.

Meanwhile, some 629 residents from seven barangays availed the free medical check-up and the supplemental food feeding, while and 516 persons received free medicines and vitamins.