SIXTEEN most wanted criminals with bounties on their heads have been arrested, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Saturday.The 16 included high value targets involved in serious crimes, particularly on illegal drugs and terrorism, according to the PNP.The PNP made the arrests from Nov. 10, 2020 to Feb. 4, 2021.Marcel Novero Tejero, with a P1.2 million bounty on his head, was arrested on January 15; Alvin Luque, with a P6 million reward, on Dec. 16, 2020; and Marcos Requina and and Alfredo Mapano alias 'Pares', with P2 million and P5.3 million rewards, in November 2020.Requina, Mapano and Luque were identified as leaders of a communist armed group.In the same period, a total of 20,801 suspects were arrested for various crimes, based on the PNP report.Of the total, 17,889 were wanted, including 71 who died in police operations. Those who were 'most wanted' numbered 2,912.PNP Chief Debold Sinas, in a statement, vowed to 'drastically reduce crime, corruption and illegal drugs and intensify manhunt operations on most wanted persons who are fugitives from justice and continue to pose threats to peace and order in our country'.
