Manila, March 28 -- Police in the Caraga region arrested 186 wanted suspects, including high-profile criminals and a communist rebel, during intensified manhunt operations from March 1 to 25, authorities reported Friday.

The Police Regional Office-13 (PRO-13) confirmed that 40 of those apprehended were on its most-wanted list, while 146 faced other outstanding warrants.

Notable arrests included: "Joe", 31, the region's 5th most-wanted, captured March 12 in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte for sexually assaulting his 12-year-old niece; "Nel", 32, Surigao del Sur's 3rd most-wanted, arrested March 24 in Madrid town for molesting a junior high school student; and "Arjun", 27, a New People's Army fighter and Surigao del Sur's top fugitive, appre...