WV cops note positive ‘Birada Semana’
INTENSIFIED anti-illegal drug operations by the Police Regional Office 6 in Western Visayas have resulted in increased narcotics-related arrests and seizures, the latest of them triggered by the ‘Birada Semana’ or weekly simultaneous anti-drug and other anti-criminality operations in the region.
Last year, the PRO6 headed by Brigadier General Sidney N. Villaflor seized over P390 million worth of illegal drugs, majority of them shabu, and arrested 2,873 targets to surpass the regional police force’s arrest and seizure record in 2022.
From January 8 to 14 this year, the PRO6 also recorded an almost daily average haul of more than P1.3 million worth of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine.’
In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., the official said that from January 8 to 14, their conduct of Oplan: Birada Semana in Western Visayas led to the confiscation of some P21.978,688 worth of shabu.
The PRO6 director said that during the period, they launched 69 anti-crime operations which led to the arrest of 89 drug targets and the recovery of 517 plastic sachets containing 3,232.16 grams of shabu worth nearly P22 million.
All 89 arrested suspects are now facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the official said.
Villaflor said that also arrested during the period were 44 Most Wanted Persons and 163 Other MWPs. The week-long anti-crime drive also saw the PRO6 conducting 54 anti-illegal gambling operations which netted 169 suspects and led to the recovery of nearly P39,000 in cash bets and 82 gambling paraphernalia.
Also arrested as a result of the intensified campaign against loose firearms by the regional police force were nine persons. During the period, 140 illegal guns and 30 explosives were recovered by the local police or were surrendered by their possessors to local authorities.
Last Friday, the PRO6 also arrested two top drug targets in the region during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Arguelles in Jaro, Iloilo City which led to the confiscation of 280 grams of shabu worth P1.904 million.
The suspects were identified thru their aliases ‘Long Hair,’34; and ‘Mike,’37, both residents of Bgy. Balabago in Jaro. Both are now facing non-bailable drug cases.
According to Gen. Villaflor, a total of P390,977,787.32 worth of illegal drugs were recovered by the regional police force last year compared to the nearly P260 million haul in 2022.
Year 2023 also saw Western Visayas-based communist rebels surrendering 275 firearms and 209 explosives.
In 2022, 41 NPA members were arrested, 93 surrendered, 76 withdrew their support and 23 were killed in clashes with government troops. A total of 100 firearms and 49 explosives were also recovered from the guerrillas during the same year.
Brig. Gen. Villaflor said they scored their anti-criminality and anti-insurgency accomplishments guided by the 5-Focus Agenda of Philippine National Police chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. especially on the conduct of honest and aggressive law enforcement operations.
“We cannot win this fight alone; we need the support of other government agencies and the members of the community, especially in our campaign against illegal drugs in the region,” he said.
He added that last year saw the PRO6 conducting 2,112 anti-narcotics operations which resulted in the arrest of 2,873 targets, now all facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
