01/06/2026
๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐-๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ-๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Through a whole-of-government effort and coordinated law enforcement operations, government authorities successfully tracked down and arrested the No. 1 Regional Top Most Wanted Person of the Police Regional OfficeโCordillera Administrative Region (PRO-CAR) on May 31, 2026, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Terminal 1, Pasay City.
The successful operation was carried out by a composite team comprising key law enforcement and government agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Bureau of Immigration (BI), PNP- Aviation Security Group (AVSEGROUP), PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group - Benguet Provincial Field Unit (CIDG-Benguet PFU), and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
The suspect is identified as John Lerry Amit, who is the subject of a Warrant of Arrest for Qualified Trafficking under Criminal Case No. 26C-CR-16365, issued by Hon. Isagani Gomez Calderon, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 8, First Judicial Region, La Trinidad, Benguet. The said warrant carries a recommendation of no bail.
๐๐๐ญ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
The PAOCC received a report concerning alleged illegal recruitment and human trafficking activities, in which the suspect was identified as one of the perpetrators. Subsequent investigation revealed that several victims were allegedly lured with fraudulent employment opportunities and later transported to Cambodia, where they were reportedly subjected to exploitative working conditions and other forms of abuse.
Through continuous case buildup and a series of intelligence and information-gathering efforts, the authorities discovered that a warrant of arrest for Human Trafficking had already been issued against the suspect by the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 8, First Judicial Region, La Trinidad, Benguet. Likewise, with the PAOCC's continuous efforts in pursuing all available leads, the suspect's whereabouts were established and located in Cambodia.
Subsequent coordination with the concerned government agencies, including the DFA, BI, and DMW, was made to monitor the suspects' movements and facilitate the necessary arrangements for the possible apprehension and repatriation to the Philippines.
Subsequently, the Commission received information regarding the suspect's scheduled arrival in the country via NAIA Terminal 1. Acting on the information, law enforcement authorities immediately executed the warrant of arrest upon the suspect's arrival, resulting in a successful whole-of-government operation.
๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐
The PAOCC, under its Executive Director, Undersecretary Benjamin C Acorda, Jr., will continue to bolster its campaign to dismantle any forms of organized crime in the country, including networks in human trafficking activities. It likewise reaffirms its commitment to arrest and prosecute those perpetrators who dare to exploit the Filipino people and violate their rights, welfare, and dignity.
