Central luzon: The Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 in Central Luzon successfully apprehended eight most-wanted individuals during a holiday manhunt operation on January 1, as reported by an official on Friday. Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio I. Pe±ones Jr., the director of PRO-3, emphasized the dedication of police personnel who continued their duties amid New Year celebrations.

According to Philippines News Agency, the arrests included two most-wanted persons at the regional level in Nueva Ecija. Additionally, six individuals on the provincial most-wanted list, along with several municipal and city-level fugitives from Bataan, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija, were captured on the same day.

The apprehended individuals face charges for serious crimes, including rape, murder, qualified theft, and violations of dangerous drug laws. Brig. Gen. Pe±ones highlighted that these successful operations demonstrate the effectiveness of ongoing intelligence validation and targeted law enforcement efforts as part of the region's intensified manhunt strategy.