By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Police authorities in Eastern Visayas intensified their law enforcement campaign in June, resulting in the arrest of more than 1,300 suspects and the seizure of illegal drugs, firearms, contraband and other prohibited items valued at over ₱20.7 million, according to the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8).
Regional police reported that 1,260 operations were carried out throughout the month, targeting illegal drugs, wanted fugitives, insurgency-related activities, smuggling, environmental crimes, loose firearms and illegal gambling.
The anti-drug campaign produced 123 arrests during 98 separate operations. Authorities confiscated 1,645.01 grams of shabu and 8.29 grams of marijuana, with the seized narcotics estimated to be worth ₱11.19 million.
Police also recorded gains in their counterinsurgency efforts after 18 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to government authorities. Security forces likewise recovered eight firearms and five explosive devices during the operations.
The region’s intensified campaign against fugitives led to the arrest of 509 wanted individuals, including 75 classified as most wanted, while the remaining 434 were facing various criminal charges.
Efforts to curb smuggling also yielded results. Police conducted 15 anti-cigarette smuggling operations, resulting in the arrest of one suspect and the confiscation of smuggled cigarettes valued at nearly ₱98,000.
Separate operations against petroleum smuggling led to the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of nine containers of petroleum products with an estimated value of more than ₱71,000.
Environmental protection campaigns also remained a priority.
Authorities carried out 284 operations against illegal fishing, apprehending 436 violators. Confiscated fishing gear was valued at approximately ₱8.61 million, while illegally caught fish were estimated to be worth ₱140,300.
Police likewise intensified the campaign against illegal logging, conducting 62 operations that resulted in the arrest of 24 suspects and the seizure of more than 12,250 board feet of unlawfully cut lumber valued at over ₱554,000.
To reduce the number of loose firearms circulating in communities, PRO-8 launched 202 enforcement activities, leading to the confiscation, surrender or recovery of 213 firearms.
Meanwhile, anti-illegal gambling operations resulted in the arrest of 243 individuals during 90 police operations, with authorities confiscating betting money totaling ₱34,656.
Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy, regional director of PRO-8, credited the accomplishments to the sustained efforts of police units across Eastern Visayas.
He said the results reflect the region’s continuing commitment to intelligence-driven law enforcement and assured the public that operations against criminal activities will remain aggressive to safeguard communities and ensure that offenders are brought before the courts.
ia/xf
