POLICE in Eastern Visayas arrested a total of 567 wanted individuals, composed of 506 other wanted persons and 61 most wanted persons, in various anti-criminality operations in the region from November 1 to 30, 2020.
"We will not allow any let up in our campaign against wanted persons who are still on the loose,” said Brigadier General Ronaldo De Jesus, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Eastern Visayas.
“Our manhunt operations will continue as these criminals might take advantage of the holidays," he added.
Biliran Police Provincial Office arrested 39 individuals, with 32 other wanted persons and seven most wanted persons; Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office, 53, with 46 other wanted and seven most wanted; Leyte Police Provincial Office, 221, with 205 other wanted and 16 most wanted; Northern Samar Police Provincial Office, 77, with 71 other wanted and six most wanted; Ormoc City Police Office, 21, with 16 other wanted and five most wanted; Samar Police Provincial Office, 43, with 32 other wanted and 11 most wanted; Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office, 73, with 68 other wanted and five most wanted; and Tacloban City Police Office, 40, with 36 other wanted and four most wanted.
Lieutenant Colonel Ma. Bella Rentuaya, police spokesperson, said the regional office has created the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) "Samar" to conduct a follow up investigation on unsolved cases on heinous and sensational crimes from January 1 to September 30, 2020, that transpired in the Province of Samar.
The task group is headed by Colonel Edwin Buenaventura Wagan, deputy regional director for operations.
According to Rentuaya, the SITG conducted a series of case conferences at SPPO headquarters in Catbalogan City “in order to gather new evidence and support in the filing of appropriate cases in court.” (SunStar Philippines)