PHILIPPINE National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Brigadier General Romeo M. Caramat Jr. yesterday 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, General 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.

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

The official said that 60 of these were manhunt operations which yielded 19 of the country’s Most Wanted Persons and 41 Other Wanted Persons.

He added that their anti-smuggling and anti-counterfeiting drive on the same day led in 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 in 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.

Brig. Gen. Caramat said that among those arrested were Domingo Ramirez, the 2nd most wanted man in Calabarzon region and Danilo Mondigo, tagged as the 4th most wanted person in Southern Mindanao.

Ramirez is the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for five counts of statutory rape and child abuse.

Mondigo is facing a non-bailable rape case as well as another child abuse case.

Brig. Gen. Caramat said that two others identified as Ralph Jacob Dayanan, the most wanted person in Cebu and Francisca Gabor were also arrested on the same day.

Dayanan is wanted for a murder case while Gabor is facing a case for large-scale illegal recruitment.

Another suspect identified as Ronaldo Fuentes,33; and Chester Allan Tan,42, both tagged as Regional Most Wanted Persons in Calabarzon region were arrested on the same day.

Fuentes was arrested in Rodriguez, Rizal on the basis of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for qualified rape while Tan, also the subject of a non-bailable rape case was tacked 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.

One of the suspects was identified as Jacob Layson,23, wanted for three counts of statutory rape with no bail recommended while the 2nd, Monchito Rocha,53, was arrested for violation of the anti-child abuse law in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque.

In Candoni, Negros Occidental, local CIDG operatives jailed Jonel Talondaata, tagged as the 6th most wanted man in Western Visayas on the basis of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for two counts of rape.

Last Sunday, PNP-CIDG agents also arrested Jeyboy Basilio, 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 were Ariel Suico, wanted for a non-bailable illegal recruitment case and Al Francis Bogtong, wanted for two counts of lascivious conduct and rape by sexual assault.