ILOILO CITY, PROVINCE LEAD: PRO-6 calls PHP 74-million drug haul in a month alarming

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Police Regional Office 6 described as alarming the confiscation of PHP 74 million worth of shabu in Western Visayas in just one month, with Iloilo province posting the biggest haul and Iloilo City recording the highest number of anti-drug operations.

“Alarming ‘yang drugs na ‘yan. In fact, napakasama niyan,” Brig. Gen. Josefino Ligan, Western Visayas police chief, said in a press conference on Monday, March 9.

While the confiscation may point to continuing challenges in reducing the supply and demand of illegal drugs, Ligan also said it reflects intensified police operations in the region.

Ligan vowed to sustain aggressive law enforcement operations against illegal drugs.

“If they want to continue, then in time, they will be arrested,” he said, warning drug personalities, “mahuhuli at mahuhuli din kayo. Walang masamang nawawagi.”

Despite efforts to prevent the entry of illegal drugs into Western Visayas, Ligan said the region’s location makes it vulnerable as a transshipment point.

Based on debriefings of arrested drug personalities, he said the bulk of the drug supply still comes from the National Capital Region.

With the continued arrest of drug suspects, Ligan said police will maintain their current strategy in the campaign against illegal drugs.

So far, he said, authorities have not monitored any known drug lord operating in the region, although they have identified areas being used as centers of drug distribution.

“We couldn’t divulge where are these areas but we are in talks with the local government units,” he said.

PRO-6 data showed that more than 11.010 kilograms of shabu with a standard drug price of PHP 74.868 million were seized from Feb. 1 to 28.

A total of 187 drug personalities were arrested in 144 anti-narcotics operations.

Those arrested included 70 high-value individuals, 114 street-level pushers, and three unlisted suspects.

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office accounted for about 61.66% of the region’s total drug haul after recovering 6.789 kilograms of shabu worth PHP 46.169 million in 45 anti-illegal drug operations.

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit posted its biggest shabu haul to date after the arrest of four persons in Balasan town on Feb. 20.

Alias “Bimboy,” 46, of Barangay Gogo, Estancia, and three other suspects were found with 2.060 kilograms of suspected shabu valued at PHP 14.008 million.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Police Office conducted the highest number of operations at 59.

Those operations yielded 1.957 kilograms of shabu worth PHP 13.307 million.

The Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 conducted only eight operations, but confiscated 1.420 kilograms of shabu worth PHP 9.656 million.

The Antique Police Provincial Office recovered shabu worth PHP 3.842 million.

The Capiz Police Provincial Office recovered shabu worth PHP 1.744 million.

The Guimaras Police Provincial Office recovered shabu worth PHP 95,200.

The Aklan Police Provincial Office recovered shabu worth PHP 54,740.