The Western Visayas regional police have further stepped up the campaign against fugitives who are either using the region as their hiding place or those who have been playing hide and seek with the police.
In Malay town of Aklan, two wanted persons were arrested anew after the local police had received information regarding their whereabouts, according to Police Lt. Col. Don Dicksie De Dios, chief of police of Malay Municipal Police Station.
First to fall, according to De Dios, is a man wanted for qualified theft based on the arrest warrant issued by a court in Kalibo, Aklan.
He said the fugitive was arrested in Barangay Cogon in Malinao town, also in Aklan on Wednesday, June 22.
On Thursday, June 23, operatives of the Malay police also collared another person wanted for a case of rape based on the arrest warrant issued by Branch 36 of a Regional Trial Court in Mountain Province.
He was arrested in Barangay Kabulihan in Malay town, according to De Dios.
“I commend our operatives for their relentless efforts during the extensive manhunt operations bringing the arrested wanted persons to the folds of justice," said De Dios.
"We assure the public that we will continue to locate, arrest and put behind bars those who are hiding and are held accountable by law," he added.
Police Brig. Gen. Flynn Dongbo, director of the Police Regional Police 6, earlier ordered all police commanders to intensify the campaign against wanted persons in the region amid persistent reports that fugitives from other regions are using Western Visayas as their safe haven.
De Dios said the two arrested wanted persons were taken to the Malay Police Station for documentation and will be presented to the courts which issued the arrest warrants.