WesMin cops bare anti-drug gains
THE Police Regional Office (PRO)-9 headed by Brigadier General Roel Rodolfo reported major anti-illegal drug accomplishments with the arrest of 188 target personalities and the seizure of more than P9 million worth of shabu.
The official said that from January 1 to February 19, they conducted a total of 172 anti-narcotics operations which netted 188 drug suspects.
Those operations led to the confiscation of over P9.1 million worth of shabu and other prohibited substances in the region.
Last February 5, PRO-9 operatives captured two suspects in a buy-bust in Sitio Asinan, Brgy. Kasanyangan, Zamboanga City.
It also led in the recovery of P3.8 million worth of shabu and an unlicensed caliber .38 revolver with four live ammunition.
Last February 8, PRO-9 agents, with the assistance of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Regional Intelligence Unit 9, arrested a drug suspect in Zamboanga City after he sold nearly P400,000 worth of shabu to an undercover officer in Sitio Asinan in Brgy. Kasanyangan.
Another anti-drug operation in Brgy. New Labangan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur last Feb. 11 saw the PRO-9 and the PNP Drug Enforcement Group accounting for 50 grams of shabu valued at P340,000.
Arrested during the sting was a top target of the regional police force.
Brig. Gen. Rodolfo launched his LIGTAS program shortly after assuming the top Western Mindanao police post last January.
LIGTAS stands for L or Labanan ang kriminalidad ng mga paninindigan; I for Ingatan and integridad: G for Gawin ang serbisyo ng naaayon sa kagustuhan ng Panginoon; T for Tugunan ng mabilisan at may paggalang ang hinaing ng taong bayan; A for Alagaan ang inyong kasamahan upang hindi maligaw ng landas at laging magtulungan bilang magkakapatid sa serbisyo and S for Sama-samang magbigay ng serbisyong makatotohanan.
Gen. Marbil has also cited the PRO-9 for scoring major gains in their anti-criminality drive, specifically the crackdown against illegal guns and wanted persons ahead of the May 12 polls.
Brig. Gen. Rodolfo has reaffirmed the PRO-9’s commitment to enhancing public safety and combating crime in Western Mindanao by strengthening their operational capabilities and internal accountability.
One of his first moves when he assumed the top PRO9 post last month was to deploy 150 additional policemen to Zamboanga City to boost police presence.
He said that the presence of additional policemen is aimed at improving citizen safety and addressing existing communication and mobility challenges faced by officers responding to incidents within their areas of responsibility.
“Walang rason para di magampanan ang kanilang mga responsibilidad,” he said.
Under his leadership, the PRO-9 last January registered a notable decline in all major crimes in the region and scored big in the campaign against illegal drugs, wanted persons, loose firearms and other crimes.
This month, PRO-9 operatives have captured some of the most wanted persons in the region, including Alejandro Asunan, who is facing a non-bailable rape case;
Edison Alcoba, another most wanted rape suspect in Zamboanga Sibugay; Saldy Baidballoso, the 8th most wanted man in Region 9 who was arrested on the strength of a non-bailable warrant for murder in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur; Romeo Beloy, another murder suspect in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur; and Oseph Lumaad, also wanted for murder and tagged as the 5th most wanted man in Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur.
