W. Visayas police operations up by 28%

By Jennifer P. Rendon

More police operations were conducted in Western Visayas in the past seven months of 2021.

The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) said that amid the police’s role in the pandemic response, the anti-criminality operations did not wane.

From January to July 2021, different PRO-6 units conducted 1,905 police operations, up by 367, or 28.86 percent, from last year’s 1,538.

Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said the increase in the number of police operations this year could be attributed to the implementation of “Oplan Birada Semana” and the weekly review conducted by the Regional Oversight Committee on Illegal Drugs and Enhanced Managing Police Operation.

Birada Semana is a week-long implementation of focused police operations which hyped the operational accomplishment of the regional office.

Of the 1,905 police operations, 879 were anti-illegal drugs operations, 734 anti-illegal gambling, 238 against loose firearms, 27 operations against illegal logging, and 27 against illegal fishing activities.

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) conducted the most number of anti-illegal drugs operations at 271 or 30.8 percent.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOcPPO) has the most number of operations conducted against illegal gambling with 342 and loose firearms at 107.

The Antique Police Provincial Office conducted the most number of operations against illegal logging with 13 while the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) has the most number of operations conducted against illegal fishing with 13.