The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office topped the campaign against wanted persons in Western Visayas, and has been credited for the arrest of 237 out of 895 suspects for various crimes in the three quarters of 2012, police records show.

Despite this, however, Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, regional police director, said police chiefs should exert more effort in the accounting for more wanted persons at-large, and pointed out that these criminals could be employed by some politicians in next year's election.

With 1,621 arrest warrants issued by various courts in the same period, Cruz said they have to account for 726 more persons with pending arrest warrants.

Fugitive former Silay barangay captain Noel Ayalin, who is facing multiple murder and attempted murder cases, topped the NOPPO list of wanted persons in Negros Occidental. A P500,000 bounty is being offered to anybody who can provide information to the police, that may lead to his arrest.

The Iloilo City Police Office trailed behind NOPPO in the arrest of wanted persons with 1,589, Iloilo Police Provincial Office -133, Aklan Police Provincial Office - 127; Capiz Police Provincial Office – 89, Bacolod City Police Office - 83, Guimaras Police Provincial Office – 44 and Antique Police Provincial Office- 24. 

Of the 726 remaining wanted persons still at-large BCPO ranked first with the most number of wanted persons to be accounted for with 244, Capiz – 171, Iloilo City – 96, Negros Occidental – 80, Iloilo - 53,  Antique – 39,  Aklan – 31,  and Guimaras with 12.

Cruz enjoined the public to support the campaign by reporting to the nearest police station or to barangay officials the presence of any suspicious looking- individuals in their locality.*GPB

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