PRO-6 goes after big drug players, not street pushers

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has ordered its units to prioritize the investigation and arrest of high-value individuals (HVIs) in the illegal drug trade, rather than low-level street peddlers, to inflict greater damage on drug syndicates.

PRO-6 acting director Police Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said police units have been instructed to shift operations toward bigger targets whose arrest could significantly disrupt drug supply chains and criminal networks.

“Although they are making arrests involving small quantities, we are telling them to shift from small operations to high-value individuals because the gains are much greater,” Tuaño said on Monday, June 1.

Tuaño said current seizures involving small quantities, such as 0.1 to 5 grams, create limited disruption to syndicates while imposing administrative, investigative, and court-related burdens on police personnel.

“On the financial side, we can see that these small arrests involving 0.1 gram, 0.2 gram, or less than five grams are actually more burdensome. Ultimately, they have to attend hearings, perform court duties, coordinate with forensic units, and go through other procedures,” he said.

The PRO-6 chief said shifting operations toward HVIs would allow police to maximize resources and produce more significant results against illegal drug supply chains.

“What we are saying moving forward is that we will shift from targeting small street peddlers and pushers to going after larger operations,” he added.

On June 2, police arrested a regional priority target identified only as “Mike,” 33, and an HVI known as “Joven,” 27, during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Polot-an, Pototan, Iloilo.

The operation resulted in the seizure of about 315 grams of suspected shabu, or methamphetamine, with an estimated value of PHP 2.14 million.

Authorities also recovered plastic sachets, knot-tied plastic bags, buy-bust money, and other evidence.

Police said the operation was conducted after more than a week of surveillance.

A day earlier, another buy-bust operation in Barangay Balanti-an, Balasan, Iloilo, led to the arrest of an HVI known as “Dodoy,” 46, along with two alleged associates.

Authorities confiscated about 493 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 3.35 million, along with a homemade 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition.

A 14-year-old who was reportedly present during the operation was turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office for intervention.

PRO-6 said “Dodoy” was previously involved in a drug-related case in Estancia, Iloilo, in 2015.

He served his sentence and was released from prison in 2025.

The intensified campaign against HVIs forms part of the Philippine National Police’s broader campaign against illegal drugs, aimed at dismantling supply networks and reducing the flow of narcotics in communities across Western Visayas.