PNP arrests 41,858 wanted persons in 2009

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday that some 41,858 persons wanted for various offenses were arrested in various police operations in 2009 while 25 other suspects were killed and 350 more surrendered.

Police units also neutralized 326 criminal gangs with 875 members armed with 141 assorted firearms. These groups include gun-for-hire gangs that might be hired by some politicians as partisan armed groups to harass and intimidate political opponents.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said the intensified campaign against fugitives resulted in the arrest of the wanted persons.

Verzosa said several concerned citizens, who helped police arrest the wanted persons, received cash from the government as reward for the arrest of 57 suspects in the Top Most Wanted Persons (TMWP) list.

Prominent personalities

He said that among the arrested TMWP were prominent personalities affiliated with the underground New People’s Army, extremist terrorist organizations, and organized crime groups, including Central Luzon NPA leader Delfin Pimentel with a reward of P2.6 million, Dino Amor Pareja of the Rajah Solaiman Movement with a reward of P.5 million, and Jason Saligan alias Commander Aguilar with a reward of P5 million.

The PNP also confiscated 7,060 loose firearms from 4,480 unauthorized gun holders in separate police operations. The police filed 3,125 criminal cases in court against the violators.

PNP also implemented the national firearms amnesty program from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 and 271,895 loose firearms were either surrendered, registered as undocumented firearms or renewed as expired licenses.

Verzosa said the arrest of wanted persons and the accounting of loose firearms highlighted the operational accomplishments of the PNP in 2009.

He said the campaign against fugitives and loose firearms will continue as priority thrusts for the coming year, especially since national elections will be held in May 2010.

“Accounting of loose firearms and the neutralization of threat groups and criminal elements are bold steps we are taking to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections in 2010,” Verzosa said. “The PNP is also intensifying operations against syndicated crime groups that may pose as threats to the 2010 national elections.”

Kidnapping cases solved

Other accomplishments of the PNP during the year include the solution of 20 kidnap-for-ransom cases out of the 25 cases reported during the year. The remaining five cases are under investigation.

In the campaign against illegal gambling, the PNP conducted 16,804 operations resulting in the arrest of 3,402 financiers and the confiscation of P2.6 million in cash bets.

Anti-smuggling, anti-piracy operations

The PNP also conducted 8,356 anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations resulting in the arrest of 35 violators of the Intellectual Property Rights Law and the confiscation of some P211-million worth of pirated and smuggled products.

Some 587 anti-carjacking operations were conducted in 2009 resulting in the recovery of 332 stolen motor vehicles and 79 motorcycles, and the neutralization of 16 carjack syndicates with 49 members.

Verzosa said that in the campaign against illegal drugs, 4,820 anti-illegal drug operations were conducted resulting in the arrest of 7,857 drug offenders and the confiscation of P1.2-billion worth of illegal drugs.

He ordered all policemen nationwide to continue their intensified campaign against all forms of criminality to ensure the safety of the general public.