LUCENA CITY –– The most wanted criminal in the island province of Romblon was arrested in Imus City in Cavite province on Sunday, Feb. 7.
Colonel Marlon Santos, Cavite police chief, identified the wanted felon as Rogelio Francisco, 27, tagged as number 1 in the list of wanted criminals in Romblon.
Romblon operatives and Imus policemen arrested Francisco, who faces two counts of rape charges, in Barangay Bayang Luma 2, the report said.
Santos said Francisco was among 171 individuals who were arrested by Cavite police in synchronized 24-hour operations on Sunday.
The report said anti-narcotics agents collared eight drug suspects in five buy-bust operations in Cavite City, General Trias City, Trece Martires City, Bacoor City, and Silang town.
Authorities seized a total of 12 plastic sachets of shabu (crystal meth), 10 sachets of dried marijuana leaves, an undisclosed amount of cash believed to be from drug sales, and drug paraphernalia.
The report posted by the Cavite police public information office on its Facebook page on Monday did not mention the estimated value of the seized drugs.
The police also held 101 illegal gamblers, three illegal firearms holders, and 12 other suspects in various crimes.
Authorities seized two undocumented caliber .38 pistols with five bullets and a home-made improvised shotgun with one ammunition.
At least 47 persons were accosted for not wearing face masks or violating the curfew.