Cagayan Valley cops arrest 197 lawbreakers; 30 NPA rebs yield
CONTINUING anti-criminality and counter-insurgency operations by the Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) this week resulted in the arrest of 167 lawbreakers and the surrender of 30 New People’s Army members in Cagayan Valley, PRO2 director, Brigadier General Steve B. Ludan said on Sunday.
In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, the PRO2 director said 114 of the 177 arrested persons were the subject of warrants of arrest issued by different Region 2 courts for various criminal offenses.
Four of them are among the top most wanted persons in Cagayan Valley, he added.
Brig. Gen. Ludan said that six other suspects were known drug personalities in the region. The suspects who yielded some P40,000 worth of shabu and dried marijuana leaves during the conduct of buy-bust operations are now facing non-bailable charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
On the other hand, three others were arrested for possession of unlicensed guns and ammunition. Ludan said that nine other loose firearms and explosives were seized by his men during the service of search warrants for violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives.
The official said his operatives also confiscated an estimated 3,363 board feet of assorted illegally-cut timber worth P168,000 in line with their stepped-up campaign against illegal logging in the region.
Ludan said they were also able to convince seven regular NPA members, 20 supporters and three Militia ng Bayan members to surrender following talks with local police authorities.
Some of the suspects were wanted for various crimes, he said.
