Manila: The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) announced on Monday that it arrested 1,629 individuals in 1,060 anti-crime operations conducted in March.

According to Philippines News Agency, the CIDG news release detailed that of the arrested suspects, 1,371 are wanted persons and criminals, including seven national most wanted persons with rewards and 131 regional most wanted persons. Additionally, law enforcers apprehended 231 suspects accused of various crimes such as rape, sexual abuse, incest rape, parricide, acts of lasciviousness, trafficking in person, sexual harassment, concubinage, child abuse, violence against women and children, online sexual exploitation, and cyber-related offenses.

A total of 27 foreign nationals were also apprehended for offenses, including cybercrimes and the illegal operation of Internet Gaming Licensees. The operations led to the confiscation of PHP897.6 million worth of evidence, 96 loose firearms, four explosives, assorted magazines, and 3,391 rounds of assorted ammunition.

Furthermore, 209 criminal complaints were filed before the National Prosecution Service. CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III highlighted in a statement, “We accounted for a significant number of the so-called guns, goons, and gold of Philippine politics, and therefore we prevented their use for the coming election.”