PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr. yesterday lauded the lauded the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) headed by Brigadier Gen. Randy Q. Peralta for their untiring effort to win the government’s war on drugs amid the pandemic and their measures to keep the election period as peaceful and orderly.

“PNP-DEG personnel have outdone themselves and have proven that we are never indeed outfought in the war against illegal drugs amidst the global pandemic and with just the recently concluded SAFE 2022 National and Local Elections,” said the top cop.

The PNP-OIC however said the PNP-DEG must not rest on its laurels and ensure that ‘high-value targets’ in the country won’t be having a nice time to sleep while continuing their illegal drug activities.

Lt. Gen. Danao also mentioned the whole support the PNP-DEG is getting from other PNP units, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Customs and the community in the conduct of its major anti-drug operations.

Brig. Gen. Peralta assured the public they are working to accomplish more as as they work 24/7 during the election period.

“Our unit never sleeps as we further intensify our anti-illegal drug operations with the end in view of successfully prosecuting the arrested offenders in court. We are also enhancing our effort to make the public fully aware of the harmful effects of dangerous drugs,” the member of PNP Academy Class 1993 told the Journal Group.

Lt. Gen. Danao earlier said he wants his men to continue a more aggressive campaign versus illegal drug trafficking and abuse focusing on the drug supply and drug reduction programs of the force while ensuring a smooth transition of power to President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. at the same time.

The member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 said he is bent on further improving the PNP efforts to fight criminality, anti-illegal drugs and corruption and ensure an honest-to-goodness ‘reward and punishment’ program in the force in the waning days of the Duterte administration.

Since last February 17, PNP-DEG agents have accounted for over P782 million worth of shabu and other dangerous drugs as a result of ‘intelligence-driven’ anti-narcotics operations.

Last May 16 to May 22 alone, more than P171 million worth of shabu and mariuana were seized by the PNP-DEG following the conduct of simultaneous anti-criminality law enforcement operations.

Last May 22, the unit accounted for more than 22 kilograms of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ worth P153 million.

Brig. Gen. Peralta said that the May 16-22 conduct of SACLEO or ‘One-Time, Big-Time’ anti-criminality operations netted 23.6 kilograms of shabu and 52,000 fully-grown cannabis plants and two kilograms of marijuana leaves worth a total of P171.404,700 and 72 top drug targets.

Shortly before noon last May 22, PNP-DEG operatives arrested three top targets in the country during a buy-bust operation in Valenzuela City which led to the seizure of 12 kilograms of shabu worth P81.6 million, Brig. Gen. Peralta said.

The official identified the drug trafficking trio as Algie Labenia, a driver from 9thStreet, Barangay Amsic in Angeles City, Pampanga; Nolan Julia,43, a construction worker from 657 Apolonio Compound in Muntinlupa City; and Joseph Malagasa,50, a jobless resident of Bgy. Maligaya in Caloocan City.

The three were arrested in a buy-bust operation on Maysan Road corner Cecilio J. Santos Street in Valenzuela City.

Recovered from the three suspects were 12 kilograms of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine,’ the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill, two mobile phones they used in making contact with the poseur-buyer and assorted IDs and other documents.

A green Honda Civic with plate no. UFY-330 used by the trio to transport the drugs was impounded by the PNP-DG National Capital Region, Peralta said.

The official said they got full support from the NCR Police Office Regional Intelligence Division and Regional Drug Enforcement Unit under Major Gen. Felipe R. Natividad; the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency headed by Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva; Northern Police District and Valenzuela City Police Station under Brig. Gen. Ulysses G. Cruz and the Bureau of Customs Intelligence Service in the conduct of the sting.

At around 2 p.m. of the same day, DEG SOU 4-B officers conducted a sting at Room A7, Block 2, Narra Street in Vera Ville, Bgy. San Isidro in Sucat, Parañaque City which led to the arrest of Joshua Christopher Buenconsejo, 26; and Cyrel Lopez,27, both residents of Pasay City.

Recovered during the operation were an estimated 500 grams of shabu worth P3.4 million, assorted drug paraphernalia and the boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill.

Thirty minutes later, another PNP-DEG-led buy-bust operation in Angeles City in Pampanga led to the confiscation of 10 kilograms of shabu worth P68 million.

However, five suspects composed of three women and two men managed to escape arrest during the sting at Unit G of BEG Apartment located in Mountain View Subdivision in Bgy. Balibago, Angeles City.

Confiscated during the operation were 10 kilos of shabu, the buy-bust money topped by two marked P1,000 bills, assorted drug paraphernalia and a black Toyota Corolla Altis with plate no. ZBF-850.

All suspects are facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, Brig. Gen. Peralta said.

Prior to those operations, PNP-DEG agents since last May 18 have arrested 23 wanted drug personalities including 11 ‘high-value targets’ following separate anti-narcotics operations which led in the recovery of over P6.2 million worth of shabu and marijuana.

“This is part of our ongoing effort to account for all wanted drug personalities upon the instruction of Lt. Gen. Danao,” said Peralta.