PRO3 MANHUNT OPERATIONS NET 1,082 WANTED PERSONS IN CENTRAL LUZON

BY KEVIN GALANG

CAMP OLIVAS, City of San Fernando, Pampanga – Operatives of the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) arrested a total of 1,082 wanted persons across Central Luzon from August 1 to 26, 2026, as police units intensified operations against individuals with outstanding warrants of arrest.

PRO3 director Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez said the operations were carried out under its “Own the Project” principle, which calls on chiefs of police to take full responsibility for manhunt efforts in their respective areas, identify and account for wanted persons, and ensure that operational requirements are met through sustained intelligence gathering, coordination and police action.

The regional police office reported a sharp increase in arrests in the final days of the period. 

Daily arrests rose from 52 on August 24 to 135 on August 25, before reaching 145 on August 26.

Among the police provincial and city offices, Bulacan recorded the highest number of arrests at 242, followed by Nueva Ecija with 208 and Pampanga with 171.

The intensified operations continued beyond August 26.

From 5 p.m. on August 24 to 8 a.m. on August 27, PRO3 recorded 311 arrests in less than three days, which police said reflected the concerted efforts of stations and operating units throughout the region.

Mendez said the results demonstrated the importance of accountability and leadership at the station level.“Our chiefs of police must own the responsibility in their respective areas. They know who are wanted, they know their communities, and they are expected to act. The results we are seeing show what can be achieved when every station takes responsibility and works toward one objective,” Mendez said.

He stressed that the campaign was not merely about meeting operational targets but also about advancing pending cases and providing a sense of justice and security to communities.

“Every warrant served means a pending case can move forward. For victims and their families, it brings them a step closer to justice. For our communities, it means greater peace of mind knowing that persons sought by the law are being actively pursued,” he said.

PRO3 said manhunt operations will remain ongoing, with police units strengthening intelligence gathering, coordination and information-sharing mechanisms to locate wanted individuals.

The effort will also be complemented by the JBM Patrol System, which promotes community-based information sharing and crime prevention initiatives.

PRO3 said the sustained manhunt campaign supports the PNP Focused Agenda of PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., particularly the strengthening of police operations and delivery of measurable results aimed at making communities across Central Luzon safer.

Police officials also reiterated that wanted persons should be arrested through lawful procedures and that operations must respect the rights of all individuals while ensuring that valid warrants are properly served.