Manila, May 6 -- The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has arrested 22 fugitives accused of rape and sexual abuse in operations conducted on May 1 to 4 across the country.

CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said of those arrested, 13 were from Mindanao, seven from Luzon and two from Visayas.

"With these arrests, we significantly prevented future rape incidents to happen and helped 22 victims and families attain the justice they deserved," Torre said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said 14 of those arrested are listed as most wanted at the regional level and five at the provincial level.

The operations were carried out in Bulacan, Bataan, Batangas, Rizal, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Antiqu...