SIXTEEN wanted persons, five of them long in hiding for separate murder cases and seven wanted for rape, were arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in a series of manhunt operations, PNP-CIDG director Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro on Sunday said.
The official said that the wanted murder suspects, all with no bail recommended, were arrested in their hiding places in Northern Samar, Isabela, Cavite, and Occidental Mindoro.

One of the suspects identified as Jerry Openiano, tagged as the 6th most wanted man in Northern Samar, was arrested on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Alma Conseulo Desales-Esidera of the Catarman Regional Trial Court.

The suspect was also tagged as a member of a robbery-extortion group operating in Northern Samar.

The second suspect, Vic Gasmis was arrested in Bgy. Centro in Cabatuan, Isabela on the basis of a warrant issued by Judge Ariel Palce of the Cauayan City RTC.

Another identified as Rolando Baluyo was tracked down in Bgy. Santiago in General Trias, Cavite. Described as the 7th most wanted person in Limay, Bataan, the suspect was ordered arrested by Judge Jose Marie Quimboy of the Mariveles RTC.

The fourth identified as Oliver Aguinaldo was arrested in Occidental Mindoro on the basis of warrants for carnapping and frustrated murder issued by Judge Jose Jacinto Jr. of the San Jose, Occidental Mindoro RTC.

The fifth, Ricardo Pagadura, the 3rd most wanted person in Catarman, Northern Samar, was nabbed in Bgy. Mackinley on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Esidera.

The seven rape suspects were all arrested on Friday.

The 11th, Roman Angeles, was arrested on the basis of a warrant of arrest for rape issued by Judge Ulysses Delgado of the San Jose, Occidental Mindoro RTC.

The other suspects were arrested in Negros Occidental, inside the Navotas City Jail, Laguna, Cagayan, and Occidental Mindoro.

The 15th, Teresa Esteban, was arrested for large-scale illegal recruitment in Biñan City in Laguna. No bail was recommended.

The 16th identified as Jeraldine Tuliao, the 10th most wanted person in Baguio City, was tracked down in her hiding place in Purok 4, Alimanao, Peñablanca, Cagayan.

Tuliao was arrested on the basis of a warrant for large-scale illegal recruitment issued by Judge Antonio Esteves of the Baguio City RTC.