(Photo courtesy of PNA)
BUTUAN CITY — Police arrested 26 wanted individuals, including eight classified as most wanted persons, during simultaneous manhunt operations across the Caraga Region on November 7, the Police Regional Office 13 (PRO-13) reported Monday.
PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Rolindo Suguilon said the operations were conducted by various police units as part of intensified efforts to locate and apprehend individuals facing outstanding arrest warrants.
The Butuan City Police Office recorded the highest number of arrests with eight, followed by the police provincial offices of Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur with five arrests each.
The Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office, meanwhile, reported three arrests.
Among those apprehended was a 31-year-old suspect identified by police as alias “Merwil,” a resident of Barangay Nato in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.
Police identified the suspect as the fourth most wanted person in the Caraga Region.
Merwil was arrested through a joint operation involving personnel from the Esperanza Municipal Police Station, the 32nd Special Action Company of the 3rd Special Action Battalion and the 1304th Regional Mobile Force Company.
According to police, the suspect faces three counts of rape in relation to Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The arrest warrants were issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, on March 24, 2026, under Criminal Case Nos. 8915, 8916 and 8917.
No bail was recommended for the charges.
Suguilon attributed the successful operations to coordination among police units, intelligence-sharing and information provided by the public.
“The success of these law enforcement operations is attributed to the continued support and cooperation of the public. The collaboration and intelligence-sharing among police units also played a significant role in the successful arrest of these individuals with standing warrants of arrest,” Suguilon said.
The regional police director emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation between law enforcement agencies and communities in locating individuals with pending arrest warrants.
PRO-13 said the operations form part of its continuing campaign to strengthen law enforcement and maintain peace and security across the Caraga Region.
