PRO-7 illegal drug campaign report: More arrests, more confiscations this year

CEBU, Philippines - Policemen in Central Visayas scored bigger in their intensified campaign against illegal drugs for the first six months this year.

In a statistics presented during the Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis forum last Friday, Police Regional Office-7 reported more arrest and more shabu confiscation in the first two quarters this year.

Superintendent Marvin Sanchez, chief of the Regional Anti-illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group-7, said there was a 64 percent increase in the number of drug suspects arrested in the first quarter this year at 972 from last year’s 592.

In the second quarter last year, 729 were arrested and the figured almost doubled this year with at least 1,408 drug suspects arrested.

Sanchez said for the past six months this year, PRO-7 was already able to confiscate more than P100 million worth of illegal drugs.

In 2014, there were only at least 2,749.07 grams confiscated in the first six months, which amounted to at least P32,439,026.

As of last month, Sanchez said at least 8723.4 grams of shabu have been confiscated this year, which amounts to P106,482,417.

PRO-7 director Prudencio Tom Bañas said he is thankful to the community for giving the police tips, leading to the arrest of drug personalities.

“Eighty percent of the success is from the participation of the community. Hindi naman kasi puwede na bystanders lang sila. What if may adik sa paligid nila dahil sa illegal drugs tapos bigla silang saktan?” said Bañas, adding that the matter on illegal drugs is a social concern.

Bañas also commended his personnel who followed his directive to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs.

“Kudos to the men and women in the PRO-7 for rising up to the challenge,” he said.  (FREEMAN)