Mimaropa cops arrest 1,252 wanted persons in first half of 2026

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The Police Regional Office (PRO) of Mimaropa (the provinces of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan or Region IV-B)  has arrested 1,252 wanted persons from Jan. 1 to July 13, a 36.4-percent increase compared to the same period last year, as authorities intensified manhunt operations across the region.

Data from the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) show that those arrested included 336 most wanted persons.

During the same period in 2025, police arrested 918 wanted persons, consisting of 299 most wanted persons and 619 others.

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The latest figures represent 334 more arrests than last year, with arrests of most wanted persons rising by 12.4 percent and those of others with arrest warrants increasing by 48 percent.

Police attributed the higher number of arrests to intensified intelligence gathering, enhanced case monitoring, and closer coordination among investigative and operating units in serving court-issued warrants.

The latest operation was carried out on Monday (July 13) when police arrested Romblon’s sixth-ranked provincial most wanted person in Barangay Agmanic at Santa Fe town.

The suspect, whose identity was withheld by police, was arrested on the strength of a warrant for rape under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 8353. The warrant does not recommend bail.

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The operation was conducted jointly by personnel from the Santa Fe Municipal Police Station, Romblon Provincial Mobile Force Company, PNP Maritime Group-Odiongan, and the Regional Intelligence Unit of the region.

Mimaropa police director Brig. Gen. Christopher Dela Cruz in a statement said: “Every wanted person arrested is another step toward justice for victims and greater safety for our communities.”

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He said the regional police office would continue strengthening intelligence sharing, inter-unit coordination, and manhunt operations to ensure that fugitives are arrested and brought before the courts. Madonna T.  Virola. INQ

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