By Perla Lena
ILOILO CITY – The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 (Western Visayas) confiscated illegal drugs with an estimated street value of PHP27.19 million and arrested 96 suspects from April 1-15, officials reported Tuesday.
In a report, the PRO-6 said the 74 anti-drug operations conducted in the first half of the month resulted in the seizure of 4 kg. of suspected shabu and 3 grams of marijuana, as well as the arrest of 29 high-value individuals and 67 street-level offenders.
The most notable was the confiscation of 2,264 grams of suspected shabu by the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, followed by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 with 945 grams of suspected shabu, and the Iloilo City Police Office with 592 grams of illegal drugs.
“I commend everyone for their dedication and hard work, especially in these challenging times. The illegal drugs we seized could have further worsened the situation in our communities and contributed to more crimes and instability,” PRO-6 Director, Brig. Gen. Josefino Ligan, said in a statement.
Ligan urged the public and local partners to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious activities to help protect the communities.
Meanwhile, over the same period, the PRO-6 apprehended 76 wanted persons in the region, 18 of whom were listed as most wanted.
The sustained campaign against loose firearms also accounted for 199 firearms and 26 explosives.
Of the firearms, 16 were confiscated through police operations, 154 were voluntarily surrendered or turned over, and 29 were deposited for safekeeping, the report said.
“The notable number of voluntarily surrendered firearms highlights the growing cooperation and compliance of the public with law enforcement authorities,” Ligan said.
He also encouraged firearm owners to ensure that their firearms are properly licensed to avoid any legal complications. (PNA)
