Cops highlight campaign with P83M worth of drugs seized

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office-7 has confiscated illegal drugs amounting to an accumulated P83 million from January to September this year.

The intensified campaign also led to the death of 22 suspects. Five were injured while 2,376 were arrested. At least 2,511 cases have been filed against the suspects, including those who eluded arrest.

Regional Intelligence Division chief, Senior Supt. Paul Labra II, said the illegal drugs worth exactly P83,175,683.65 were seized during 1,830 operations

During this time period, 52,513.39 grams of marijuana, 6,691.33 grams of shabu and 280 ampules og Nubain and other drug paraphernalia were confiscated.

From June to September alone, the police confiscated over P53 billion worth of illegal drugs.

It was during this time that PRO-7 director, Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Bañas, declared an all-out war against illegal drugs.

Labra said that from July 2 to October 21 this year, 744 anti-drug operations were conducted, which led to the death of 22 suspects and a policeman and injured five suspects and six law enforcers.

The policeman who perished was identified as PO1 Michael June Ejoc who died on the spot after sustaining gunshot wounds in his head and neck during the operation in Bohol in August. The suspect who hit him, Artemio Tare, was killed by police officers at a checkpoint in days later.

Most of the operations, 297 of them, were carried out by the Cebu Provincial Police Office but operations carried out by the Bohol Provincial Police Office were the ones with the most number of casualties.

Last week, three men were killed during a raid conducted by the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group 7 and Provincial Intelligence Branch of Cebu Provincial Police Office.

One of the casualties was an escapee identified as Jojo Gañolon who was said to be the leader of the group engaged in robbery, gun-for-hire, and extortion. The group was also accused of bullying local residents in the mountain barangays in Dalaguete, Alcoy and Boljoon. — Bryner L. Diaz/JMO (FREEMAN)