ILOILO City – Sustained police manhunt operations amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in Iloilo province yielded a total of 459 wanted persons since Jan. 7 this year.
“If there was no lockdown for how many months, baka mas madami pang na-arrest,” said Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
Based on IPPO records, the arrest of 459 wanted individuals was seven percent higher than those made for the same period of last year when only 429 were arrested.
“We should not allow them to go scot-free,” Lucas pointed out, saying the Iloilo police force remained relentless in running after fugitives despite its workforce being kept busy by the nation’s response to COVID-19 for several months.
The top five performing municipal police stations with the highest number of arrested persons from January to July were the following:
* Ajuy – 27
* Oton – 23
* Barotac Nuevo – 21
* Cabatuan – 20
* Dumangas – 20
* Passi City – 10
* Barotac Viejo – 10
IPPO data further showed that in the first week of August, municipal police stations of Lambunao and Pavia were able to arrest three wanted persons; Miag-ao, Tigbauan, Banate, and Dingle with two each; Leon, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, San Enrique, Ajuy, and Batad with one each.
Lucas appealed anew for cooperation of the public, urging everyone to stay vigilant against lawless elements.
“We need your cooperation not only in fighting COVID-19 but also in running after criminals,” Lucas said./PN
