SEVENTY-ONE wanted persons in the Cordillera region were hauled to jail by the local police in a series of intensified manhunt operations since May 15, Cordillera Police Regional Office Director Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee told the Journal Group on Saturday.

Citing records from the Cordillera Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, the official said that the Baguio City Police Office caught 24 of the 71 wanted men followed by the Benguet Police Provincial Office with 17; the Abra PPO with 7; the Kalinga and Ifugao PPOs with 6 apprehensions each; and the Apayao and Mountain Province PPOs with 4 arrests each.

In a report to Philippine National Police Officer-in-Charge (PNP-OIC) Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr., the official said that 68 of the 71 were arrested from May 15 to 21.

Brig. Gen. Lee said that 21 of them were listed as Most Wanted Persons, with four at the provincial level; another four at the municipal level; three at the city level; and ten at the station level.

He said that those on the provincial level list were suspects who is wanted for robbery and violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004; the second, wanted for violation of RA 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law and rape by sexual assault; third wanted suspect, for rape; and the fourth, also wanted for violation of RA 7610.

At the municipal level list, the three captured suspects were wanted respectively for statutory rape, frustrated murder, and violation of RA 7610.

A 4th suspect was nabbed for violation of RA 8203 or the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs.

At the city level, two suspects, both wanted for qualified rape and robbery with homicide; and another collared wanted for illegal recruitment.

Of those listed in the station-level wanted list, ten were captured for estafa cases; robbery with intimidation and violation of RA 9262; violation of RA 9287 or “An Act Increasing The Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games and its Implementing Rules”; and a wanted for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the Cordillera police director said.

Brig. Gen. Lee said that they also arrested last May 25 two known drug personalities in the region during buy-bust operations.

Also, two others were also arrested on the same day on the strength of warrants for various offenses.

Lee said that one was arrested for violating the Comelec gun ban while the second was jailed for an estafa case. Another third suspect was arrested for estafa thru the falsification of public documents.

The official said that three other drug personalities in the region were arrested last Monday in separate anti-illegal drug operations – arrested while engaging in a drug session in Bgy. Pico in La Trinidad, Benguet. A tip from a resident prompted the La Trinidad Police to go to the area where they found the suspects, who yielded some P2,000 worth of shabu.

On the other hand, the third “druggie” was arrested after selling some P2,500 worth of shabu to a poseur in the same area.

All three are now facing charges for violation of RA 9165, Brig. Gen. Lee said. By Alfred Dalizon