PHILIPPINE National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Director Brigadier General Romeo M. Caramat Jr. on Saturday announced the arrest of 85 wanted persons in the country following a day-long manhunt and other anti-criminality operations conducted by his men on Wednesday.

The official said that the suspects were arrested as a result of their intensified “war against crime” ordered by PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.

The top cop has instructed the PNP-CIDG to further step-up the implementation of their “Oplan: Pagtugis” against most wanted persons and “Oplan: Paglalansag Omega” aimed at accounting for loose weapons and organized crime gangs and partisan armed groups nationwide.

Caramat said that on Wednesday, his men launched a total of 79 operations which led to the arrest of 85 suspects and the confiscation of P171,286 worth of evidence.

The official said that 60 of these were manhunt operations that yielded 19 of the country’s “most wanted persons” (MWPs) and 41 other wanted suspects.

He added that their anti-smuggling and anti-counterfeiting drive on the same day led to the arrest of one suspect who was found in possession of P125,000 worth of evidence.

Four anti-illegal gambling operations on the same day likewise led to the arrest of 15 individuals and the recovery of P13,992 in cash bets.

Another two suspects who were found in possession of nearly P33,000 worth of evidence were also arrested amid the PNP-CIDG’s ongoing campaign to help save and protect the country’s natural resources.

Caramat said that among those arrested on Wednesday was the 2nd most wanted man in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region and the 4th most wanted person in Southern Mindanao.

The Calabarzon MWP is the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for five counts of statutory rape and child abuse, while the 4th MWP in Southern Mindanao was captured for a non-bailable rape case and another child abuse case.

Caramat said that two others, the most wanted person in Cebu and another suspect, were also arrested on the same day.

The Cebu MWP is wanted for a murder case, while the other suspect is facing a case for large-scale illegal recruitment.

Two regional MWPs in the Calabarzon region were arrested on the same day.

One was arrested in Rodriguez, Rizal, based on a non-bailable warrant of arrest for qualified rape, while the other suspect was facing a non-bailable rape case and was tracked down in his hiding place in Lucena City.

In Mimaropa region, CIDG operatives also jailed two most wanted persons in the region following separate operations in Occidental Mindoro and Marinduque.

The MWP in Mimaropa region was arrested for three counts of statutory rape with no bail recommended, while the second wanted suspect was arrested for violation of the anti-child abuse law in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque.

In Candoni, Negros Occidental, local CIDG operatives jailed a suspect, tagged as the 6th MWP in Western Visayas, based on a non-bailable warrant of arrest for two counts of rape.

Last Sunday, PNP-CIDG agents also arrested a suspect, tagged as the 6th most wanted man in Region 4-A. The suspect is the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for four counts of rape.

Also arrested on the same day was an MWP for a non-bailable illegal recruitment case and another suspect for two counts of lascivious conduct and rape by sexual assault.