By William Agda
Authorities in Butuan City apprehended 21 wanted individuals, including two most wanted persons, during a two-day manhunt operation conducted on November 28 and 29.
Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) Director Police Col. Rommel D. Villamor identified the 10th most wanted person at the city level, known as Chris, who was arrested in Barangay Mahay on November 28 for attempted murder. The No. 1 most wanted person at the station level, identified as Jif, was apprehended the following day in Barangay Basag for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Col. Villamor commended the efforts of the operating units and the community for their cooperation in ensuring the success of the operation. “I am grateful to the community for your unwavering support and cooperation with our authorities, resulting in the success of our operations. We will continue to work together to achieve true peace in our city,” Villamor said.
The arrested suspects are currently in the custody of the apprehending units for proper legal procedures, according to Police Major Jennifer S. Ometer, chief of the Regional Public Information Office (RPIO) for Police Regional Office-13 (PRO-13).
In preparation for the holiday season, PRO-13 will deploy approximately 2,000 law enforcement personnel across the Caraga region under the “Ligtas Paskohanan 2024” program.
Police assistance desks will be established at churches, malls, terminals, and other high-traffic public areas to ensure safety. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams and K9 units will be stationed in areas anticipating large crowds, with additional support from force-multipliers to enhance security measures.
“Our force-multipliers will also be tapped to help in securing respective places,” Major Ometer stated, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to maintain public safety during the holiday season.