• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine National Police reported the arrest of 111 drug suspects in almost one week of anti-drug operations in Western Visayas, resulting in the confiscation of P11.76 million worth of suspected shabu.
In a report, the Police Regional Office 6 said that the confiscation of 1.7 kilos of suspected shabu and 57 grams of dried marijuana leaves, valued at P11.76 million, was the result of 87 police operations conducted in the region from February 10 to 16.
Nineteen of the arrested drug peddlers were tagged as high value, and 92 were classified as street level individuals.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office arrested 46 drug suspects, equivalent to 41.44 percent of the total arrests made in Region 6. It also confiscated P1.9 million worth of illegal drugs.
NOCPPO and the Bacolod City Police Office remain under the supervision of PRO 6, although Negros Occidental is now under the Negros Island Region, pending the establishment of a Police Regional Office 18.
On the other hand, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office had the biggest drug haul, totaling PHP4.7 million worth of suspected illegal drugs with 18 arrests, followed by the Iloilo City Police Office with PHP2.8 million with 20 arrests.
In a statement, P/Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, regional police director, lauded the different Drug Enforcement Units and teams for their relentless efforts in the fight against illegal drugs.*
