Police in Western Visayas are intensifying efforts to track down more than 10,000 wanted persons in the region, including those facing serious criminal charges, the Police Regional Office (PRO-6) said Monday, Sept. 7.

PRO-6 director Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said police arrested 328 wanted persons last month across Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.

The arrests represented 29.56 percent of the region’s monthly operational target of 1,110 cases, placing PRO-6 at the top of the national performance ranking, Tuaño said in a media interview on the sidelines of his command visit to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office headquarters in Sta. Barbara.

“The requirement of the national headquarters is at least 10% of the overall number. So our target on a monthly basis is 1,110. We have accomplished 29.56%,” Tuaño said.

He said police will further strengthen their tracker teams, noting that each arrest helps resolve a pending case.

“We will strengthen the tracking of wanted persons because for every wanted person arrested is one solution to a pending case,” he said.

Some of those being pursued face charges including murder, homicide and rape, Tuaño said.

He said PRO-6 gives immediate attention to all warrants of arrest regardless of the severity of the case, in part to provide justice to victims.

Tuaño attributed the arrests to close coordination between police tracker teams and local government units.

PRO-6 records show 10,141 wanted persons remain on its list. Of these, 294 are classified as most wanted and 9,847 as other wanted persons.

Iloilo province has the highest number at 3,451, followed by Iloilo City with 2,813, Capiz with 1,637, Antique with 1,198, Aklan with 763 and Guimaras with 279.

During his visit to the Iloilo police provincial headquarters, Tuaño led the inauguration of Baganihan Hall, built to honor fallen Ilonggo police heroes.

He recognized police personnel and units for their accomplishments, including operations against illegal drugs.

The Medalya ng Kadakilaan was awarded to Maj. Dadje Delima, Cpl. Ralf Lorenz Licor, Lt. Adrian Baligod, Cpl. Joeny Mangoliman, Lt. Patrick John Alabado, Pat. Karl Angel Gayuma, Maj. Karl Jerome Tingala and Cpl. Riel Larieta.

The Medalya ng Pagkilala was awarded to Lt. Rick Adrian Navarro, SSgt. Bryan Beso, SSgt. Sandy Mar Desamero and Pat. John Paul Mendoza.

Tuaño brought members of the regional directorate to the command visit to directly address concerns raised by the provincial police command.PNA