‘One-Time, Big-Time’ anti-crime drive in R12 nets 158 suspects
A TOTAL of 158 lawbreakers, 99 of them most wanted persons were arrested in simultaneous anti-criminality law enforcement operations in Central Mindanao conducted by agents of the Police Regional Office 12 (PRO12) on Wednesday, the Journal Group learned.
PRO12 director, Brigadier General Michael John F. Dubria said of the 99 most wanted persons, three were identified as the 17th, 63rd and 64th most wanted men in the entire region.
In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, the official said the others arrested include 15 known drug personalities and 41 involved in illegal gambling activities.
“Appropriate criminal charges are being readied against the arrested suspects for illegal possession of drugs and firearms and other felonies,” Dubria said.
Recovered during the operations were 33 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing an estimated P55,000 worth of shabu, 14 plastic sachets with dried marijuana leaves, 74 assorted low and high-powered firearms, 46 various live ammunition, a rifle grenade, three hand grenades and P7,347 in illegal gambling bets.
Brig. Gen. Dubria said four members of the New People’s Army’s Guerrilla Front MUSA and three members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters also surrendered to his men on Wednesday.
The three NPA members turned over two home-made caliber 5.56 pistols and a cal. .22 sub-machine gun while the three BIFF men surrendered an improvised rifle-propelled grenade launcher, an RPG rocket, a 12-gauge shotgun and a Barret sniper rifle.
The PRO12 director said the ‘One-Time, Big-Time’ anti-criminality operations in the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato and in General Santos City were launched by combined operatives of the PRO12 Regional Intelligence Division, Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the local police with the assistance of the Regional Intelligence Unit 12, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Regional Crime Laboratory and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
