In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen law enforcement and ensure safer communities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) continues to demonstrate its commitment to public safety and the rule of law through the arrest of 13 Most Wanted Persons (MWPs) and 12 Chinese nationals in a series of coordinated operations conducted nationwide on October 15, 2025.
These successful operations were carried out through the combined efforts of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), PNP Special Action Force (SAF), and various regional and local police units, guided by the PNP Focused Agenda under the Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO), a strategy aimed at ensuring evidence-based, intelligence-driven, and community-centered policing.
Among those arrested were a 23-year-old man from Negros Occidental wanted for qualified rape of a minor and acts of lasciviousness; a 35-year-old man from Davao del Sur wanted for statutory rape; and an individual known as “Esco” from Agusan del Sur facing charges of murder.
In Maguindanao del Norte, a Top 6 Most Wanted Person wanted for murder died in an armed encounter after resisting arrest during a police operation. Meanwhile, in Baguio City, operatives captured a Top 1 Most Wanted Person for four counts of qualified rape of a minor, along with a female suspect wanted for 82 counts of theft and 45 counts of falsification of documents.
Other arrests were made in various provinces across Luzon and the Visayas involving suspects charged with qualified theft, statutory rape, and violations of the Anti-Cybercrime Act (RA 10175). All arrested individuals are now under police custody for documentation and turnover to their respective courts of origin.
Meanwhile, in a separate joint operation in Tacloban City, twelve Chinese nationals were apprehended by the Bureau of Immigration Region 8, the Tacloban City Police Office, and intelligence units for violations of Philippine immigration and alien registration laws. The foreign nationals are now under the custody of the Bureau of Immigration for processing and disposition.
Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., Acting PNP Chief, commended the dedication of all operating units involved in the simultaneous manhunt and law enforcement operations.
“Each fugitive brought to justice represents one less threat to our communities. Through our Enhanced Managing Police Operations, we strengthen coordination, intelligence work, and community partnerships to make every Filipino feel safer,” said PLtGen Nartatez.
PNP reaffirms its resolve to sustain the momentum in pursuing wanted individuals and law offenders nationwide—anchored on due process, integrity, and the shared vision of a Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman.
