CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO, La Union –The Police Regional Office 1 under the leadership of B/Gen. John C Chua, Regional Director continues to score on its anti-criminality operations with the series of arrests of wanted persons and drug personalities in the region totalling 252 individuals.

For the month of February, Ilocos police achieved significant feats against Most Wanted Persons following the arrest of 252 wanted persons. This includes one Most Wanted Person with rewards covered by DILG MC; 5 Regional Level MWPs; 12 Provincial MWPs; 36 Municipal MWPs and 198 Other Wanted Persons.

On the campaign against illegal drugs, 54 operations were conducted that resulted in the arrest of 60 drug personalities and confiscation of 101.26 grams of shabu and 330 grams marijuana with a combined standard drug value of P728,165.28. This is complemented by PRO 1’s persistent drug-clearing operations resulting in the surrender of 22 drug personalities.

In the home of Pres. Bongbong Marcos, the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) led by its Provincial Director,Col. Julius C. Suriben, has been producing significant accomplishments since it welcomed 2023 in implementing its mandate to combat criminality, terrorism, and anti-illegal drugs.

In 2022, Col. Suriben’s leadership brought INPPO to greater heights as it was adjudged as the Best PPO in Police Community Relations and ranked number 1 in UPER among the PPOs for 7 months.

Col. Suriben also launched various projects and initiatives, among them the i.P.O.L.I.C.E. Service Application launched on October 17, 2022 with the Governor and community leaders citing the Ilocos Police Online Law enforcement, Investigation, community affairs, and emergency mobile phone service application as a breakthrough in local policing.

PRO1 also ensured the parallel implementation of focused police operations against loose firearms, illegal gambling, illegal logging and illegal fishing.

The campaign against illegal gambling resulted in the arrest of 567 individuals, confiscation of P258,874.00 as pieces of evidence, reported Chua.

PRO 1’s relentless efforts to account for loose firearms in the region have resulted in the confiscation of 146 small arms and light weapons and apprehension of 20 individuals.

On the campaign against illegal logging, PRO1 was able to recover P98, 153.95 worth of lumber and apprehended 10 violators.

Seventy-two individuals were also collared by the police for illegal fishing.

These accomplishments contributed to the region’s decrease in the recorded index crimes as compared to the previous year.

Based on the Peace and Order Indicator, 64 Index Crimes were recorded for the month of February 2023 in the region. This reflects a significant decrease of 37 incidents or 37% as compared to the same period of the previous year (February 2022) which recorded 101 index crimes.

Index crimes are crimes that are serious in nature and which occur with sufficient frequency. This includes the crime of Murder, Homicide, Physical Injury, Rape Robbery, Theft and Carnapping.

“These numbers are proof that PRO 1 remains steadfast in ensuring peace and order in the region. Sinisiguronamin ang maigting naming pagbabantay sa kaayusanat kapayapaan kasama ang buong KASIMBAYANAN ng Region 1,” said Gen. John C. Chua, region 1 police director.

Chua also expressed his gratitude to the community stakeholders and encourage them to continuously support the local police in all their law enforcement initiatives.

“With your support, we can continuously suppress criminality and illegal drug trade in the entire Region 1,” he added.