POLICE Regional Office 5 (PRO5) Director Brigadier General Mario A. Reyes yesterday reported significant accomplishments by the Bicol police in the campaign against illegal drugs, criminality, and terrorism vis-à-vis in their successful effort to make the May 9 national and local elections in the region “violence-free”.

“We have foiled and addressed various forms of criminalities in Bicol in the aftermath of our aggressive campaign on drugs, loose firearms, wanted persons, and insurgency,” the member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Tanglaw Diwa” Class of 1992 told the Journal Group.

In a report to Philippine National Police-Officer-in-Charge (PNP-OIC), Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr., the official said that from April 26 to last May 1 alone, their campaign against illegal drugs led to the arrest of 12 “high-value individuals” and the confiscation of an estimated P565,000 worth of dried marijuana leaves.

Six cases for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 have been filed against the arrested suspects.

Brig. Gen. Reyes likewise said that they also confiscated 21 assorted loose firearms during the 6-day period amid their all-out effort to account for illegal guns that can be used to commit violence during the election period.

The official said they also accounted for 76 wanted persons, including one of the region’s most wanted men. The others include four most wanted at the city level, 12 in the municipal level, and 59 other wanted persons.

PRO5 agents also arrested two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members in Masbate province.

“This is part of our more extensive and stringent effort to attain a safer and more peaceful community for Bicolanos through the forging of a stronger relationship and partnership with the citizenry,” Brig. Gen. Reyes said. By Alfred Dalizon

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Alfred P. Dalizon