PRO-6 tops shabu seizures in Philippines

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Police Regional Office 6 on Monday said it ranked first among police regional offices nationwide in terms of shabu seizures.

From June 1 to 13, different PRO-6 units recovered 3,042 grams of shabu valued at PHP 20,686,144.

Police said the seized drugs were recovered in 49 operations that led to the arrest of 59 people.

For Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño, Western Visayas police chief, the record reflects the police force’s sustained commitment to law enforcement.

“Being the number in terms of shabu seizure highlights our intensified efforts against drug trafficking and the illegal drug trade,” he said.

Rather than seeing the figures as alarming, Tuaño said he viewed them as the result of police-initiated operations.

“Kung hindi masipag ang ating mga pulis, hindi sila makakahuli,” he said.

Tuaño said PRO-6 could not compete with other regions in terms of large drug seizures per operation.

Because of this, he said PRO-6 has been conducting more operations.

Tuaño said his leadership is focused on “quality arrests.”

He noted that while there were more operations and arrests in the past, many cases were also dismissed.

“Kaya ngayon sisiguraduhin natin na ang mahuhuli ay makukulong,” he said.

Tuaño also noted a PHP 50 billion disparity in the value of illegal drugs seized from 2022 to the present compared with the 2016–2022 anti-drug campaign.

“The operations remain bloodless. We have concentrated on arrest of high value individuals para mas malaki po ang confiscation ng illegal drugs,” he said.

Tuaño said he intends to keep the campaign bloodless under his term.

Shabu, the local term for methamphetamine hydrochloride, is classified as a dangerous drug under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.