549 violators apprehended under safer cities initiative

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) continued its intensified implementation of the Safer Cities Initiative, resulting in the apprehension of 549 individuals for various local ordinance violations during a province-wide anti-criminality campaign conducted on June 20.

Under the leadership of PCol Abubakar Mangele Jr., Provincial Director of CPPO, police units carried out 233 operations across component cities and municipalities, reinforcing law enforcement efforts aimed at promoting discipline, maintaining public order, and ensuring community safety.

Based on the accomplishment report, authorities recorded 390 violations of city and municipal traffic ordinances, accounting for the highest number of apprehensions.

Other violations included 61 cases of drinking in public places, 48 curfew violations involving minors, 30 individuals seen roaming in public areas without shirts, 19 cases of smoking in public places, one case of karaoke use beyond allowable hours, and seven other local ordinance violations.

Of the total apprehended individuals, 390 were issued fines, while 159 were warned and released in accordance with applicable local regulations and ordinances. The operations generated a total of P180,800 in fines and penalties.

Among the component city police stations, Carcar City Police Station recorded the highest number of violators with 51 apprehensions, followed by Toledo City Police Station with 36, Talisay City Police Station with 34, and Danao City Police Station with 30.

Among municipal police stations, Balamban Municipal Police Station posted the highest number of apprehensions with 51 violators, followed by Daanbantayan MPS with 30, San Francisco MPS with 29, and Consolacion MPS with 28.

The sustained implementation of the Safer Cities Initiative underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies and local government units to maintain safer public spaces and encourage greater compliance with local ordinances throughout Cebu Province.

Meanwhile, four wanted persons were arrested in separate law enforcement operations conducted recently. The arrests, carried out by different police stations, involved individuals facing charges ranging from violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 to drug-related offenses and other criminal complaints.

In Dalaguete, a 40-year-old woman wanted for violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22, or the Bouncing Checks Law, was arrested by personnel of the Dalaguete Municipal Police Station during a warrant service operation in Barangay Obong.

In Toledo City, a suspect listed as both a Top 7 Provincial Most Wanted Person and a Top 2 City Most Wanted Person was arrested by operatives of the Toledo City Police Station in Barangay Daanlungsod. The suspect was facing charges for violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Police reported that the suspect had been evading arrest since a 2025 drug operation, where his alleged cohort was apprehended.

In Bantayan, intelligence operatives of the Bantayan Municipal Police Station arrested a wanted person for grave oral defamation in Barangay Botigues.

In Pinamungajan, a 64-year-old wanted person was arrested by the Tracker Team of the Pinamungajan Municipal Police Station in Barangay Sibago for slight physical injuries.

In other law enforcement activities, three drug suspects were arrested in separate anti-illegal drug operations conducted by police units in Talisay City and Cebu City, with authorities seizing over P1.2 million worth of suspected shabu during the coordinated enforcement efforts.

A high-value individual (HVI) was arrested and more than P1.12 million worth of suspected shabu was confiscated in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Talisay City Police Station in Barangay Tangke on June 19.

Recovered from the suspect were several sachets containing suspected shabu weighing approximately 165 grams with an estimated standard drug price (SDP) of P1,122,000.

Police also confiscated the marked buy-bust money consisting of one genuine P1,000 bill and one genuine P500 bill, an additional P1,500 believed to be proceeds from illegal drug transactions, and a black sling bag allegedly used to store the illegal substances.

In Cebu City, the Cebu City Police Office reported the arrest of two drug suspects in separate buy-bust operations conducted on June 18 and June 19.

In the first operation, personnel of Police Station 1, led by PMAJ Alvino B. Enguito, arrested a suspect in Barangay T. Padilla after a buy-bust operation in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Confiscated from the suspect were approximately eight grams of suspected shabu with a Standard Drug Price (SDP) value of P54,400.

In the second operation, operatives of Police Station 7 under PCPT Troy John A. Lalamunan arrested another drug suspect in Barangay Bulacao. Authorities recovered around 5.16 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated SDP value of P35,088.

All suspects are currently under police custody while appropriate charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MRM