BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) reported the arrest of 248 wanted persons from intensified manhunt operations from January to May this year in Baguio City.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong, as head of the City Peace and Order Council, said the number of arrests this time is higher, compared to the 239 wanted persons arrested during the same period last year.

However, BCPO City Director Police Col. Ruel Tagel said the police force has arrested 60 of the top most wanted persons in the current period, which is lower than the 62 most wanted persons arrested during the same period last year.

He claimed that 188 more wanted persons were arrested by the BCPO from January to May this year compared to 177 more wanted persons arrested by the combined police personnel and intelligence agents during the same period last year.

According to the BCPO, of the most wanted persons arrested, 11 were identified as Regional Most Wanted Persons, 26 were city or provincial top most wanted persons, 23 were classified as municipal or station top most wanted persons while 188 were other wanted persons.

Last year, there were 8 arrested as regional most wanted persons, 30 were classified as city or provincial most wanted persons, 24 were considered municipal or station top most wanted persons and 177 were other wanted persons.

According to Tagel, they will continue to intensify the implementation of the issued arrest warrants on the identified wanted persons to ensure a continuous campaign against criminality to maintain law and order in the city.