PNP girds for safe, orderly mid-term elections in Bicol
SEEKING to ensure a much peaceful and orderly May 12 National and Local Elections in the entire Bicol region, officers and men of the Police Regional Office 5 are going all-out against loose firearms and private armed groups and other lawless elements that may disrupt the mid-term polls.
Headed by Brigadier General Andre P. Dizon, the PRO5, the military and the Commission on Elections Region 5 led by Attorney Juana Maria A. Valeza have started a series of talks to discuss their security preparations including the strict enforcement of the gun ban in Bicol starting on January 12.
Last December 2, Brig. Gen. Dizon and Atty. Valeza discussed the PRO5’s accomplishments in curbing the presence of illegal firearms in Bicol which has been described as an essential step in keeping a generally peaceful polls in the region.’ The Bicol police also successfully secured the October 1 to 8, 2024 filing of Certificates of Candidacy in different filing venues in the region.
The PRO5 noted a 5.64 percent drop in the region’s overall crime rate in 2024 where 19,083 Index Crimes were recorded or 1,141 less compared to the 20,224 incidents registered in 2023.
Out of the 19,083 recorded crime incidents, 215 or 1.13 percent were classified as street crimes. Of these, 151 incidents were resolved resulting in a Street Crime Solution Efficiency of 70.23 percent.
The PRO5 also said that in 2024, it recorded a total of 2,265 index Crimes which is 522 or 23.05 percent lower compared to the 2,787 cases in 2023. Of these, 1,374 incidents were solved resulting to a 60.66 percent Index Crime Solution Efficiency. In addition, it also cleared a total of 12,171 index crimes for a 95.85 percent Index Crime Clearance Efficiency.
Last year, the PRO5 conducted 1,078 operations against illegal firearms which resulted in the arrest of 285 targets and the confiscation of 255 illegal guns while 455 were surrendered by their holders.
Another 187 were captured from lawless elements and 511 were turned in by their registered owners to the local police for safekeeping while they are renewing their gun papers.
Those anti-gun operations likewise led in the death of three armed suspects during clashes with the police and the filing of 155 cases for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 against the arrested violators.
Year 2024 also saw the PRO5 hauling to jail 31 wanted members of criminal gangs and forcing 33 others to surrender amid its focused and persistent effort to smash organized crime groups in the region.
Two others were killed in gunfights with the police led by Gilbert Concepcion, the ex-New People’s Army rebel-turned Army deserter who formed the dreaded Concepcion Gang which gained notoriety for its involvement in kidnappings, gun-for-hire, extortion, robbery-holdup, gunrunning, drug trafficking and rape.
After years of manhunt, Concepcion was finally tracked down by the PRO5 in his hiding place in Parañaque City and was killed in an ensuing firefight along with another armed cohort.
Concepcion’s killing put an end to the group which became notorious for acting as a private armed group to rogue politicians in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur and other adjacent areas.
Over the past 12 months, the PRO5 also successfully waged a campaign against illegal drug trafficking and abuse with less shots being fired. As a result, it conducted 1,346 operations across the region which resulted in the arrest of 1,471 target drug personalities and the filing of 1,781 cases for violation of RA 0165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against the suspects.
Those operations led in the confiscation of nearly P245 million worth of shabu, marijuana and cocaine and the killing of two armed drug personalities in shootouts with undercover officers.
The PRO5 also accounted for a total of 4,789 wanted persons in 2025, 4 of them National Level Most Wanted Persons or MWPs, 197 Regional Level MWPs, 123 Provincial Level MWPs, 110 City Level MWPs, 4 Municipal Level MWPs and 3,689 Other Wanted Persons.
In its counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism campaign, the Bicol police force arrested 195 targets, caused the surrender of 228 others and recovered 249 firearms and 152 explosives from the hands of the suspects. Fourteen Enemies of the State were killed in gunbattles with the local police last year.
Its campaign against illegal gambling also triggered the arrest of 1,813 suspects and the confiscation of nearly P1.09 million worth of illegal gambling paraphernalia and bets. A total of 636 cases were also filed against the arrested suspects in court.
At the same time, it also went hard after illegal fishers an loggers leading to the arrest of 759 illegal fishermen, the seizure of nearly P18 million worth of illegally-caught fish and fishing paraphernalia and the filing of 88 cases in court.
The PRO5’s anti-illegal logging campaign netted 247 targets and some P3.08 million worth of illegally-caught lumber and wooden flitches. Fifty-seven cases were filed against the suspects in court.
The Bicol police also cleared a total of 2,411 barangays last year while helping residents including PRO5 personnel affected by powerful typhoons including severe tropical storm ‘Kristine’ and super typhoon ‘Pepito.’
Known as the ‘Game-Changer,’ Brig. Gen. Dizon said their year-long accomplishments is a result of their steadfast commitment and unwavering unity to ensure that Bicol will be an ideal region to live in and a haven for tourism, business and retirement.
“From enhancing police visibility through innovative bike and motorcycle patrols to ensuring the peaceful observance of Undas and securing critical election-related activities, every initiative reflects our resolve to safeguard our communities,” the member of Philippine National Police Academy ‘Sandigan’ Class of 1994.
“The acquisition of modern mobility assets and the integration of advanced ICT tools, including drones, demonstrate our forward-thinking approach to law enforcement, Furthermore, our proactive disaster response and collaborative efforts with agencies and NGOs underscore our shared commitment to resilience and mutual progress,” the 54-year old Bicol police director said.
