Authorities arrested one of Eastern Visayas’ most wanted persons in a joint police operation in Castilla, Sorsogon on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Police identified the suspect as a 20-year-old male resident of Castilla, Sorsogon.

He was the seventh most wanted person in Eastern Visayas and was facing rape charges with no bail recommended.

The operation was carried out by multiple units, including the Alang-alang Municipal Police Station (MPS), Leyte Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), and the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office (PPO), in coordination with intelligence divisions from PNP Region 8.

According to PNP Bicol Regional Director PBGen. Andre Dizon, strong collaboration between law enforcement and local communities was key to the successful arrest.

“'Yung relasyon ng PNP sa community at saka sa ibang government agency [ang naging susi], maganda ang communication line at active yung ating concerted efforts sa pag-maintain ng peace and order through sa reporting system, so inoopen po palagi natin ang line natin sa isa’t-isa,” he told GMA Regional TV News.

Dizon also assured operations against fugitives in Bicol will be intensified and encouraged barangays to monitor suspicious individuals in their communities.

“Unang-una, 'yung mga barangay ay ine-encourage natin na lahat ng suspicious-looking — mga new faces sa kanilang barangay — sisitahin at i-engage po nila bakit andun po sila, ano sadya nila… 'Yun po ang ating pro-active efforts,” he said.

"At the same, nag-organize tayo ng 'Kabataan Kontra Kriminalidad' na hanggang barangay po ioorganize natin to para makatulong sila [ang kabataan] sa PNP sa pag-picture, pag-video, pag-text kung may ganoong indibidwal sa kanilang paligid po," he added.