In one week, PCAC SAYS: 13 arrested for drugs, over P500T shabu seized

CEBU, Philippines -  In a span of one week, at least 13 people have been arrested and over P500,000 worth of shabu confiscated in different police operations, the Cebu City Police Coordinating Advisory Council reported.

 The arrest of the suspects and the confiscation of the items were reportedly the response of the Cebu City Police Office to the declaration of Police Regional Office-7 regional director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Bañas for an “all-out-war” against illegal drugs.

According to PCAC, the biggest anti-drug operation was conducted by the City Intelligence Branch on July 18 at sitio Dita, Barangay Pulang Bato wherein an estimated P450,000 worth of shabu were seized.

PCAC, together with CCPO, has been intensifying its efforts to curb illegal drug trade in the city.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella, who chairs PCAC said earlier said that they will now be focusing their campaign against illegal drugs in coastal barangays.

Police authorities, Labella said, fear that with the tightened security at the airport, syndicates will smuggle contrabands via coastal barangays from one local government unit to another.

On July 29, PCAC’s weekly meeting will be held in Barangay Pasil, one of the 16 coastal barangays in the city.

 Pasil barangay officials as well as of barangays Ermita, Sawang Calero, Suba and Mambaling will be invited to the meeting to apprise them the need to be vigilant, said Labella.

PCAC also reported that they were able to apprehend 11 people for illegal gambling and confiscated from them video karera machines and papers with written illegal numbers combination of swertres and masiao, among others.

Five people were also arrested for illegal possession of firearms and another 14 “wanted” persons in the city were arrested through warrants of arrest.  (FREEMAN)