CORDILLERA'S top most wanted persons (TMWP) were rounded up by police in two operations in the region.
Cordillera's number 4 TMWP and number 1 in Tabuk City, Brando Baluga Rivera, who was wanted for carnapping, was arrested in Dagupan, Tabuk City, Kalinga on September 10.
The arrest was made by combined operatives of the Provincial Highway Patrol Unit, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Kalinga Provincial Mobile Force Unit, Tabuk City Police Station, and Provincial Intelligence Bureau-Kalinga.
In Abra, Bangued's number 1 TMWP identified as Avelino Quezada Libuen Jr., 40, a security guard and resident of Barangay Naglibacan, Malibcong who was charged with murder, was caught in Sta. Filomena, San Mariano, Isabela on September 7.
In the station level, Israel Milaor Omana, listed as number 4 TMWP of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) Station 5, was caught in Barangay San Antonio, Guinayangan, Quezon Province on September 4.
Omana was captured by combined police personnel of BCPO, Guinayangan Municipal Police Station and Quezon Provincial Police Office. He was charged with qualified theft.
The number 7 TMWP identified as Irene Tuggad Secuaten was arrested at the Benguet Capitol, La Trinidad, Benguet on September 2.
Secauten was arrested by personnel of BCPO Station 6 and 5, Criminal Intelligence Unit and CIDG Benguet for the crime of estafa.
Police Brigadier General Israel Ephraim Dickson, Police Regional Office (PRO)-Cordillera director, commended the operating teams for displaying dedication and commitment that resulted in the arrest of wanted persons.
He said the arrests were a result of the PRO-Cordillera's intensified campaign against wanted persons under Oplan Manhunt Charlie.
Meanwhile, the PRO-Cordillera has accounted 17 prisoners who were released by virtue of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) but surrendered to different police stations regionwide. Seven of these GCTA beneficiaries were already turned over to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
Dickson encouraged those prisoners convicted of heinous crimes/offenses but were released by the BuCor under the GCTA law to submit themselves for accounting to avoid being the subject for manhunt operation after the lapse of the 15-day period given by President Rodrigo Duterte.