A cross-regional manhunt concluded in Dumaguete City on the night of July 17, 2026, when law enforcement operatives from multiple agencies tracked down and arrested a Chinese national who had been tagged as the number-one most wanted fugitive in the CALABARZON region. The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) made the announcement public on July 18, 2026.
The female suspect, going by the alias “Xi” and aged 34, was taken into custody at approximately 7:25 p.m. in Barangay Looc, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. PRO-NIR confirmed that her arrest was carried out pursuant to a valid warrant issued for robbery under Article 294, Paragraph 5 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended.
A Former POGO Worker on CALABARZON’s Watchlist
According to PRO-NIR, the suspect was previously employed by a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) before she came under the radar of law enforcement. She had been designated as the top most wanted individual under Police Regional Office 4A, the regional police command overseeing CALABARZON — the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
Her successful evasion across regional lines — from the CALABARZON area in Luzon all the way to Dumaguete City in the Visayas — illustrated the challenge that fugitive tracking poses to authorities operating under separate jurisdictions. PRO-NIR noted that the breakthrough came through persistent intelligence work that monitored her movements until she was located in Negros Oriental.
Multiple Agencies Converge in Barangay Looc
The operation that led to her capture was a joint effort involving law enforcement units drawn from different parts of the country. PRO-NIR said the Dumaguete City Police Station, operating under the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, served as the on-ground unit, working in close coordination with several partner agencies.
The inter-agency team included the Anti-Carnapping Section of the Regional Intelligence Division of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), the Bacoor City Police Station in Cavite, the Regional Intelligence Division–Regional Special Operations Unit 4A, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Task Force.
The composition of the team — drawing personnel from Metro Manila, Cavite, and the Negros Island Region — reflected the kind of coordinated intelligence-sharing that PRO-NIR described as critical to bringing the operation to a successful conclusion.
Suspect’s Rights Read, Now in Dumaguete Custody
PRO-NIR said in a statement that following her apprehension, the suspect was properly apprised of the charges against her and informed of her constitutional rights in a language she was able to understand. She was also formally documented in accordance with standard operating procedures.
The suspect remains under the custody of the Dumaguete City Police Station as of the announcement, pending her turnover to the court that issued the warrant and the completion of all required legal processes, the regional office added.
PRO-NIR Chief Highlights Coordination as Key to Success
Police Brigadier General Romano V. Cardiño, the regional director of PRO-NIR, attributed the outcome of the operation to the effective collaboration among all units involved.
“This successful operation highlights the strength of intelligence sharing and seamless coordination among law enforcement agencies. No wanted person can escape the long arm of the law when police units work together with determination and precision. PRO NIR remains steadfast in supporting all efforts to locate and arrest fugitives, ensuring that they answer for their offenses before the courts,” Cardiño said.
PBGen Cardiño took over as PRO-NIR regional director on May 8, 2026, succeeding Police Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay in the post.
SAFE NIR Program Drives Continued Manhunt Efforts
PRO-NIR said it will maintain the momentum of intelligence-driven manhunt operations and continue building partnerships with police units and law enforcement agencies at the national level. The regional office stated that its SAFE NIR Program — an acronym for Seen, Appreciated, Felt, and Extraordinary policing — remains the guiding framework for its public safety mandate.
The program anchors PRO-NIR’s commitment to swift justice and peace and order across its area of responsibility, which covers Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. PRO-NIR was formally activated in 2025 as the Philippine National Police’s 18th police regional office, following the establishment of the Negros Island Region as a distinct administrative and policing jurisdiction.
By the Numbers
- 7:25 p.m. — Time the suspect was arrested on July 17, 2026
- 34 — Age of the Chinese national suspect
- 5 — Partner agencies involved in the joint operation
- May 8, 2026 — Date PBGen Cardiño assumed command of PRO-NIR
- 18th — PRO-NIR’s designation as a PNP regional office, activated in 2025
- 3 provinces/islands — PRO-NIR’s area of responsibility: Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor
Why This Matters
The apprehension of CALABARZON’s top most wanted fugitive in Dumaguete City underscores how coordinated inter-agency intelligence operations can bridge regional boundaries and close in on suspects who attempt to evade capture by crossing jurisdictions. The case also brings renewed attention to lingering law enforcement concerns tied to the now-curtailed POGO industry, with a former offshore gaming worker now facing robbery charges before the Philippine courts. For PRO-NIR, the high-profile arrest represents an early operational milestone under PBGen Cardiño’s command and signals the regional office’s resolve to pursue wanted persons wherever they may flee within the country.
Source: Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) / PNP Public Information Office
