241 persons arrested in Mandaluyong for 1st qtr

A total of 241 drug suspects, 32 of them drug pushers, were arrested by the Mandaluyong City police during the first four months of the year.

Senior Superintendent Sukarno Ikbala, the local police chief, said this figure represents an increase by 96.19 percent of the number of arrested drug personalities for the same period last year.

Ikbala said the positive development showed that the local police remains on target on the wish of Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. to make his city ‘drug-free" in due time.

The Mandaluyong City police may have accomplished a lot in the campaign against illegal drugs but Ikbala admitted the crime incidents posted a slight 13.04 increase for the same period. From January to April, a total of 338 incidents occured in the city compared to 299 last year.

Ikbala attributed the 49.09 percent increase in the crime volume to their relentless anti-drug operations, or, on the non-index crimes. He noted, however, the decrease by 31.34 percent in index crimes like crimes against persons, physical injuries, and theft cases.

In his report to Abalos, Ikbala said they were able to neutralize five drug syndicates which also resulted in the arrest of their 27 members. Thirty-five drug dependents turned themselves in for rehabilitation.

The police conducted 32 seminars and "Pulong-Pulong" resulting to the clearing of a barangay in the drug’s watchlist while two other barangays are due for declaration as "cleared" by their respective Barangay Anti-Drug Action Center (BADAC).

The local police also recovered 16 four-wheeled vehicles and two motorcycles, or a recovery rate of 157 percent.

In the campaign against organized crime gangs, Ikbala reported the neutralization of eight gangs and the arrest of its 25 leaders and members who operate in Mandaluyong City and neighboring areas.

A total of 125 people were arrested in 39 operations conducted against illegal gambling, he said.

The local police also arrested 229 wanted people, nine of them in the list of top most wanted persons, in a total of 296 warrants served or a 77.37 arrest efficiency.

He,too, took pride in the recovery of 12 loose firearms and its owners properly charged in court. – Non Alquitran