Manila, Oct. 5 -- Authorities have arrested 213 fugitives and seized 197 loose firearms in their month-long law enforcement operations across Zamboanga Peninsula in September, a top police official announced Sunday.

Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta, director of Police Regional Office (PRO) 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), said 63 of the 213 arrested fugitives are listed as most wanted persons, and the remaining 150 are classified as other wanted persons.

"These arrest missions were executed through close coordination between local police units, national support agencies, and valuable intelligence provided by vigilant citizens," Matta said in a statement.

The PRO-9 covers the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Z...