THE stepped up drive against illegal narcotics by the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 has resulted in the seizure of nearly P1.185 billion worth of shabu and other illegal drugs and earned commendations from Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin S. Abalos Jr.

Official records showed the PRO7 headed by Brigadier General Anthony A. Aberin from June 23, 2023 to June 23, 2024 conducted a total of 6,632 operations which led to the arrest of 7,499 targets.

Arrested during the period include 41,055 drug suspects in Central Visayas.

Recovered as a result of the year-long operation were 172.3 kilograms of shabu, around 8.8 kilos of dried marijuana leaves and 205 Nubain ampules. The confiscated illegal drugs were valued at P1,184,910,945.11.

The Cebu City Police Office accounted for 238 top drug suspects.

The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office apprehended 72 high value individuals while the Cebu Police Provincial Office netted 369 HVIs.

The Bohol PPO arrested 126 top drug suspects while the Siquijor PPO accounted for 5 drug suspects.

Abalos commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil for scoring major accomplishments in their anti-criminality campaign from January 1 to date.

According to the official, from January 1 to June 21 this year, the national police force conducted a total of 24,515 anti-narcotics operations which resulted in the arrest of 28,804 drug targets and the confiscation of nearly P13.678 billion worth of illegal drugs, including nearly 1.7 ton of shabu.

Sec. Abalos said that the Police Regional Office 4-A headed by Brigadier Gen. Kenneth Paul T. Lucas, the PNP Drug Enforcement Group led by Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta and the PRO7 headed by Brig. Gen. Aberin were the top performers in the PNP’s anti-drug campaign during the week-long period.

He also commended the PNP for its success in accounting for wanted persons from June 17-21 wherein the police force hauled to jail 1,187 targets, including 347 Most Wanted Persons and 850 other wanted.

Among those arrested last week was former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves, one of the co-accused in the killing of Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others in Pamplona on March 4, 2023.

The accused has already posted bail in connection with the case for violation of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 filed against him.

Sec. Abalos cited the presence of more policemen on the streets which has resulted in the solution of a number of major crimes in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

He referred in particular to NCRPO operatives whose quick reaction led to the arrest and neutralization of fleeing criminals.

The DILG chief referred to an incident in Taguig City were policemen immediately arrested two suspects in the killing of a real estate broker; the arrest of two suspects in the kidnapping of a 19-year old Chinese national also in Parañaque City and the killing of an armed robber during a shootout with two Las Piñas City policemen who were also wounded in the exchange of fire.

Gen. Marbil said those accomplishments were the result of the deployment of 85 percent of their men in the field to conduct patrol duties.

Maj. Gen. Nartatez assured that their 85-15 percent personnel distribution scheme will continue in order to have a much quicker police response.

“We make sure na if a crime happens in the streets, we will take action, that there will be arrests and the investigation will be geared at scoring a court conviction,” the Metro Manila police chief said.