The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) had arrested 1,031 wanted persons and seized 491 unlicensed firearms in 2020.

Records from the IPPO showed that there was a 30 percent increase on the arrest of wanted persons compared to 2019.

Out of the 1,031 wanted persons, 993 were arrested in police operations in 2020, while 790 were  apprehended in 2019.

Police records further showed that of the arrested wanted persons, 176 belonged to the most wanted or top 10 most wanted in the municipal, province, regional, or national level.

The town of Oton, meanwhile, recorded the highest number of arrested wanted persons with 50. Ajuy followed with 49 and Cabatuan with 44.

IPPO director Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero said that this accomplishment could not be possible without the dedication and sacrifice of the police and the help of the community.

But despite the development in the campaign against the arrest of wanted persons and loose firearms, Gorero is still urging field commanders to step up their operations against wanted persons who remain at-large.

“There is no letting up in our efforts to bring behind bars those who are subjects of warrants of arrest. We will run after them,” Gorero said./WDJ