A STEPPED-UP effort by the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to account for most wanted persons (MWPs) in the country this week resulted in the arrest of a Cebu village chief and four others facing various criminal charges in court, PNP-CIDG Director Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee said on Saturday.

In a report to PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the official said that one of the suspects, an incumbent chairman of Barangay Tayud in Liloan, Cebu, was arrested last Tuesday on the strength of a warrant for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act under Republic Act 3019 issued by Judge Chonita Maagad of the Mandaue City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 56 last November 8.

Members of the CIDG Cebu City arrested the village official who was ordered to post a P90,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

The village chief was charged with failing to act reasonably on a complaint from some of his constituents despite follow-up letters made by the complainants causing discrimination and damages on the latter’s part.

“Pinupuri ko ang CIDG Cebu Region 7 na umaresto sa akusado. Gaya nga ng sabi ko, we, at CIDG are not partial or biased. Kung nagkasala ka sa batas, whether or not you’re a public official, we will be at your doorstep and enforce the law against you,” said Lee.

The others were arrested in a string of manhunt operations this week.

One of them, a man wanted for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, was arrested in Tondo, Manila, on Thursday afternoon by CIDG-National Capital Region Field Unit (NCRFU) operatives under Col. Hansel M. Marantan

Judge Maria Sophia Solidum-Taylor of the Manila RTC Br. 31 ordered the arrest of the accused.

A suspect from Bgy. Sto. Niño in Marikina City was arrested by CIDG Manila District Field Unit agents inside Paco Park in Manila last Wednesday based on a warrant for violation of RA 9262 or the Anti-Women and Children Abuse law.

Judge Edwin Valdez of the Marikina City RTC Br. 7 recommended a P72,000 bail for the suspect’s liberty.

The 3rd wanted suspect, a gun-for-hire in North Cotabato who is wanted for two counts of frustrated murder, was arrested in Bgy. Sudapin in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato last Wednesday.

The two others were arrested for violating the anti-illegal mining law in Bacong, Negros Oriental, last Thursday.

Lee said that local CIDG and police operatives arrested the two for illegal quarrying activities or while extracting sand minerals in the riverbank of Bgy. Isugan in Bacong municipality.

The two have been charged with violation of RA 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.