WV hauls P23M worth of shabu in a month

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

DIFFERENT police units in Western Visayas scored the biggest shabu seizure in terms of value in just a month.

Figures from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 indicated that police in the region netted 1.5 kilos of shabu or crystal meth with an estimated street value of P23,180,580.

The PRO-6 said the seizure could be one of, if not the biggest, illegal drugs haul within a month.

The seizures were made in the first month in office of Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan who was designated Western Visayas police chief in late June 2019.

As expected, Negros Occidental recovered the highest volume of shabu at 920 grams and valued at P13.805 million. The seizures were the result of 68 anti-drug operations.

On the other hand, Bacolod City seized 614 grams of shabu (P9.2 million) in 63 operations.

The Capiz Police Provincial Office confiscated 6.9 grams of shabu (value: P82,818) in 7 anti-drug operations.

Aklan province netted 3.37 grams of shabu (P33,778) after 9 operations.

Iloilo City conducted 18 operations and confiscated 3.18 grams of shabu worth P38,211.

The remaining provinces recovered “negligible” volumes of shabu. Iloilo province only netted P3,561 worth of shabu; Guimaras, P3,402; and Antique, P882.

The 180 operations led to the arrest of 250 persons while two subjects were killed.

Most of those arrested (189) are not on the police watch list while 61 are listed.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, said 65.60 grams of marijuana were also confiscated.

The big haul should not be misconstrued that the illegal drug trade is thriving in the region.

Instead, Malong said it was a result of the realignment of strategic direction that focuses on operational accomplishments.

“We’re more on target-output policy wherein every provincial and city police offices will work to operate on their identified drug personalities,” Malong said.

While no quota was set and each police and provincial office will work on their pace, they are expected to deliver “reasonable results.”

Malong said there was nothing new in the operation scheme since they just sustained the gains of the previous PRO-6 administration.

Those with subpar scores will be assessed and evaluated.

The fact that Negros Occidental leads in terms of operations and seizures bolstered reports that more than half of identified illegal drug personalities in the region are in the province.

Based on the latest validation of the Regional Oversight Committee on Illegal Drugs and Illegal Gambling (ROCIDG), there are 2,911 drug personalities listed from Dec. 5, 2017 to July 29, 2019.

The number includes 1,537 Oplan Tokhang targets in Negros Occidental.

Taking the next spot is Bacolod City with 794; Iloilo City – 211; Capiz – 122; Iloilo province – 111; Antique 63; Aklan – 58; and Guimaras with 15 personalities.