ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA, November 25, 2025 — Police Regional Office 9 (PRO 9) reported the arrest of two high-profile fugitives in separate law enforcement operations on November 24, 2025, as part of its intensified manhunt campaign across the region.
At around 1:10 a.m. in Purok Dos, Barangay Lagting, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay, operatives of the Dipolog City Police Station, in coordination with the Siay Municipal Police Station, arrested a 44-year-old male listed as the Top 3 Most Wanted Person at the city level.
The suspect, a resident of Purok Bularan, Barangay Miputak in Dipolog City, was apprehended by virtue of a warrant of arrest for Statutory Rape issued by the Family Court, 9th Judicial Region, Branch 3, on October 6, 2023. He is currently detained at Dipolog CPS for proper disposition.
A separate operation at around 11:40 a.m. in Barangay Lawigan, Labason, Zamboanga del Norte, led to the arrest of a 20-year-old male identified as the Top 1 Most Wanted Person at the municipal level under the e-Warrant System.
The operation was carried out by Labason Municipal Police Station, the 2nd Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the 901st Maneuver Company of Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9. The suspect was wanted for Murder under a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 28 in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte, dated April 24, 2025. He is now under the custody of Labason MPS.
PRO 9 Regional Director Police Brigadier General Edwin A. Quilates commended the coordinated actions of the involved units, stating that these arrests reflect the region’s sustained commitment to apprehending wanted individuals and maintaining public safety. He added that ongoing intelligence-driven operations remain aligned with the directives of Acting PNP Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., particularly in strengthening actions against fugitives across the Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu. (November 25, 2025, Mikaila Abrinica)