P1B drugs seized in CV

CEBU, Philippines — A total of P1.125 billion worth of drugs have already been confiscated in Central Visayas this year from the months of January to September.

The separate operations that yielded 165 kilos of illegal drugs were carried out by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7, together with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and law enforcement units in the region.

PDEA-7 information officer Leia Alcantara, in a press conference, said that within the period, they conducted 3,361 illegal drug operations and arrested 4,621 individuals.

Alcantara said that compared to the same period last year, this year's figure is lower in terms of illegal drugs operations and number of individuals arrested.

Last year, they conducted 4,272 illegal drugs operations and arrested 5,073 persons.

However, Alcantara said that in terms of volume seized, this year is higher by 44 kilos against the 121 kilos of illegal drugs confiscated last year.

“So atong makita nga for this year’s illegal drugs operations, mas daghan ta og na confiscate, high impact ug high volume gyud siya,” said Alcantara.

She added that most of the illegal drugs confiscated are shabu, but there are also marijuana plants and leaves and Nubain.

As to the update on their Barangay Drug Clearing Program, of the 3,003 barangays in Region-7, a total of 1,874 are drug-cleared, 160 drug-free and 1,013 drug-affected barangays.

Alcantara added that if they receive reports that there are drug users reported in a drug-free or drug-cleared barangays, it will not automatically revoke the status as long as the barangays will implement some interventions, such as home visitation, voluntary surrender of the suspected drug users, among others.

“But as of today, wala pay status nga na revoke,” Alcantara added.

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental cops arrested a 45-year-old male suspect with over a kilogram of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation conducted in broad daylight yesterday at Purok San Sebastian, Brgy. Buntis, Bacong, Negros Oriental.

The said confiscated illegal drugs weighed a total of 1,085 grams with a standard drug value of P7,378,000.

Other pieces of drug paraphernalia were also recovered which will also be submitted to the Forensic Unit for analysis.

While the suspect is in custody, documents are also prepared for the appropriate filing of charges in court for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Police Regional Office-7 regional director PBGEN Anthony Aberin in a statement commended the personnel of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit/Provincial Intelligence Unit of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office for the successful interception of said illegal drug trade and the arrest of the high-value suspect.

“In close coordination with other law enforcement agencies and the support of the Central Visayas community, these drug personalities will all soon be arrested.  This objective will be achieved by and through observance of the Police Operational Procedures and due process of law", Aberin added. — /ATO (FREEMAN)