CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – The regional command of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) on Monday afternoon, Sept. 5, reported the arrest of 255 most wanted and other wanted persons during ‘One Time Big Time’ (OTBT) Implementation of Warrants of Arrest (WOA) in the different areas in Caraga region’s five provinces and six cities.
PRO 13 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat, Jr. told The Manila Bulletin on Monday, Sept 5, that the big accomplishment of this command is in relation to the first nationwide OTBT of the Philippine National Police under the leadership of PNP Chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin, Jr.
Data gathered from the PRO 13 Regional Operations Division also showed that of the total number of those arrested, 16 are most wanted at the regional level, 29 at the provincial level, and 25 at the city and municipal level, while 185 are categorized as other wanted persons.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur intelligence operatives who conducted police operation as part of the OTBT thwarted an ambuscade by 10 fully armed members of the New People’s Army Guerrilla Front 30 A of the CPP-NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Command led by Kumander ‘Nico’ at Sitio Panunongan, Barangay Libas Gua, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
Sensing the danger of the situation, police officers accelerated their vehicle while under fire by the rebels at Sitio Cadlum, Barangay Cabangahan, Tago, Surigao del Sur, until reaching a safe area and proceeded to a mountainous part to gain an advantage.
The police officers remained in the area until the danger subsided and returned safely to their respective station.
General Caramat commended the bravery and alertness of our law enforcers who, despite the large disparity in numbers, foiled the cowardly act by Communist Terrorist Group that tried to ambush the policemen.
“This is the result of the aggressive anti-criminality efforts of the police in Caraga to clean the region from the threats posed by wanted criminals,” the region’s top police official said.
“The active support of all stakeholders and the public has contributed greatly to achieving this success, committed to maintaining peace and order in the region," General Caramat said.
The region's top cop vows to launch more operations in the coming days.
Aside from the OTBT implementation of WOA, the PNP Caraga also launched the Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations on Monday that resulted in the confiscation of illegal drugs, loose firearms, explosives, arrest of suspects, and surrender of Communist Terrorist Group members, the regional command of PRO 13 added.