PRO-7 tops in fight against illegal drugs

CEBU, Philippines – Police Regional Office-7 has ranked first in the campaign against illegal drugs and second in the fight against the proliferation of loose firearms nationwide.

From January to September last year, PRO-7 has confiscated over P83 million worth of illegal drugs in at least 1,800 different operations in Central Visayas.

In the same period, it has arrested 2,376 persons and filed at least 2,511 cases against the suspects, including those who have managed to elude arrest.

It was also in the same period that PRO-7 has recorded the biggest confiscation rate so far of up to P53 million worth of illegal drugs.

The police attributed the accomplishment to the leadership of PRO-7 director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Bañas, who declared an all-out war against illegal drugs since he assumed office.

Bañas vowed to fight this perennial problem in the region despite the accusation that what he was doing was only “Oplan Pakilala” or just to impress because he just assumed post.

Bañas has been asking for public’s support, which turned out to be effective as they are receiving some information on drug pushers and other criminals that led to their arrest.

In August, former Task Force Tugis chief Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa, the designated Deputy Regional Director for Operations, directed all police stations to conduct at least two anti-illegal drug operations each month.

As a result, more drug personalities have been arrested and more drugs were confiscated in the region.

Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief of the Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division, said that the amount of drugs confiscated as of October has reached P100 million.

Most of the operations were conducted by Cebu Provincial Police Office, but Cebu City Police Office fared well when it confiscated over P10 million worth of illegal drugs late last year. — (FREEMAN)