TWO wanted persons, one of them is listed as top 3, were arrested in separate manhunt operations in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, the police said Thursday, November 7.

Police Major Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the arrested wanted persons as Antonio Villapania, 45, and Jake Maratas, 24.

Galvez said that Villapania was arrested by policemen around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Purok 2 Crossing Znac in Camul Village, Tampilisan town.

She said Villapania, listed as the top 3 most wanted person in Tampilisan, has standing warrant of arrest for the crime of frustrated murder with a recommended bail of P200,000 issued on June 13, 2012 by the court of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte.

Galvez said Maratas was arrested by joint police and military forces around 7 a.m. Wednesday at Galas Port, Dipolog City.

Maratas has standing warrant of arrest for the crime of direct assault upon an agent of person in authority with P24,000 recommended bail issued on April 29, 2019 by the court of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, she added.

She said the two arrested wanted persons are now detained under the temporary custody of police in Tampilisan and Sindangan towns. (SunStar Zamboanga)