August operations net 286 fugitives in Northern Mindanao

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A month-long dragnet operation across Northern Mindanao led to the arrest of 286 fugitives in August, including dozens of high-profile suspects who had long been hunted by authorities.

Data from the Police Regional Office 10 (PRO-10) showed that of the total arrests made between Aug. 1 and 31, 2026, 72 were tagged as “Most Wanted Persons” (MWPs), while 214 fell under the category of other wanted persons.

READ: Cops seize P7.51-M smuggled cigarettes in N. Mindanao

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Among the top-tier suspects arrested, 10 were listed at the regional level, 36 at the provincial and city levels, and 26 at the municipal level.

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Bukidnon accounted for the largest share of the haul with 84 arrests, followed by Misamis Oriental with 49, Cagayan de Oro City with 44, and Misamis Occidental with 41. Rounding out the regional tally were Iligan City with 37, Lanao del Norte with 27, and Camiguin with four.

Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr., PRO-10 director, said the operations were carried out under the directives of the leaderships of the Philippine National Police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which prioritize the service of warrants on high-profile fugitives.

“There will be no let-up in our manhunt operations,” Babagay said, pointing out that police units will maximize intelligence resources and strengthen coordination while keeping all operations within legal bounds. /jpv