293 high-value targets nabbed in 1 year: NCRPO

MANILA -- The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has arrested 293 drug suspects who are considered highvalue targets (HVTs) from June 2018 to June 2019, an official said Monday.

Based on its data, NCRPO head, Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the intensified campaign against HVTs through intelligence-driven operations has already accounted for a total of 801 HVTs out of the 854 suspects on its watchlist.

“There were 200 voluntarily turned themselves in to the authorities while 293 were arrested during the conduct of intel-driven operations while 25 personalities who resisted the arrest and chose to engage with our operatives and eventually were killed in police operations,” Eleazar said.

“There are also 84 cases of homicide under investigation and 166 HVTs are still at large and being tracked by our operatives on the ground with the help of BINs (Barangay Intelligence Networks) and other members

of the intelligence network,” he added.

He said the PNP’s antiillegal drugs drive, via the Oplan Double Barrel, gave the Regional Investigation Division (RID)-NCRPO a gosignal to eradicate the threat brought by drug personalities - protectors, distributors, smuggling syndicates who were identified as HVTs.

“These personalities may be hidden inside the PNP ranks and other law enforcement agencies. They may also be government officials, members of the academe, businessmen and other high-profile personalities,” Eleazar said.

He said it has been almost three years since the government launched the anti-illegal drugs campaign to clear drug-affected barangays, improve public safety and reduce crime.