A REGIONWIDE conduct of simultaneous anti-criminality law enforcement operations or “SACLEO” in Bicol has resulted in the arrest of 66 drug suspects, and the seizure of at least P2.8 million worth of shabu, Police Regional Office 5 (PRO 5) Director Brigadier General Rudolph B. Dimas said on Thursday.

In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the Bicol police director said that the drug arrests and seizures were made from November 26 to December 26 when they launched their so-called “One-Time, Big-Time” anti-drug operations during the period.

Dimas said those operations netted ten “high-value individuals,” 40 street-level individuals, and 16 other drug offenders. A total of 73 criminal charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 have been filed against the arrested lawbreakers, he added.

The Bicol police director said that recovered from the suspects were a total of 427.002 grams of shabu and 40.2 grams of dried marijuana leaves with a Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P2,850,879.88.

He said that the Naga City Police Office made the biggest drug seizure with P1.018 million, followed by the Albay Police Provincial Office (PPO) with P713,610.

The Camarines Norte PPO came in 3rd with P479,102 worth of prohibited drugs, followed by the Camarines Sur PPO with P315,941.40; the Masbate PPO with P291,250.40 and the Sorsogon PPO with P32,240 worth of shabu.

Dimas said that the Catanduanes PPO recorded no drug-related incidents or any other operations during the period.

The official said that they have also been intensifying their drug awareness campaign thru information dissemination, distribution of information, education and communication materials, and their ongoing massive social media drive to educate the public on the “ill effects of drugs.”

“These efforts have become an effective way of convincing the public to help the government get rid of any forms of drugs and empower the community as instruments in clearing and making the region drug-free,” he explained.

Dimas also affirmed the PRO5’s full support and commitment to the BIDA or “Buhay ay Ingatan, Droga ay Ayawan” program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which fully jibes with Azurin’s call for a more holistic approach to end the illegal drug problem in the country thru all-out cooperation between the police force, the Church and other faith-based organizations and the community.

“We remain stern in our effort to reduce drug demand in the community and at the same time continue to ensure that we will find those individuals responsible in the trade, sale, and production of illegal drugs in (the) Bicol region,” the PRO5 director said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon