Bacolod cops achieve largest drug seizure in W. Visayas

By Jennifer P. Rendon

After months of being sidelined, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has returned to the forefront of Western Visayas’ anti-drug campaign.

In the recent Birada Semana campaign by the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6, BCPO surpassed usual top performers such as the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6, and the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) in terms of the volume of seized drugs.

Birada Semana is a weeklong enhanced managing police operations (E-MPO) focused on anti-criminality, wanted persons, illegal drugs, and illegal gambling.

PRO-6 records showed that BCPO confiscated 1,303.8 grams of suspected shabu during Birada Semana, which ran from July 1-7. The seized illegal drugs have a standard drug price (SDP) of PHP 8,865,840.

Meanwhile, RPDEU-6, known for conducting high-value anti-narcotics operations, confiscated 905 grams of shabu valued at PHP 6,154,000.

The IPPO, which posted the biggest drug confiscation in last month’s Birada Semana, seized 531.69 grams of shabu worth PHP 3,615,492, while the Iloilo City Police Office recovered 300.5 grams valued at PHP 2,043,400.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOcPPO) placed fifth, confiscating 144.515 grams of shabu worth PHP 982,702.

Completing the list is Antique PPO with shabu valued at PHP 557,600; Capiz PPO with PHP 391,000; Guimaras PPO with PHP 40,800; and Aklan PPO with PHP 27,880.

PRO-6 noted that 81 anti-narcotics operations were conducted during the period, resulting in the arrest of 102 persons.

Further, RPDEU-6’s confiscation was a result of just four operations, while BCPO units conducted 11 operations to achieve the PHP 8.8 million drug haul.

NOcPPO units conducted the most anti-narcotics operations at 30, followed by IPPO with 15, Iloilo City with eight, Capiz PPO with seven, Aklan PPO with three, Antique PPO with two, and Guimaras PPO with one.

In last month’s Birada Semana, PRO-6 units conducted 77 anti-narcotics operations. These operations led to the confiscation of 2.781 kilograms of shabu and 125 grams of marijuana worth PHP 18,914,098 and the arrest of 110 persons.