Cops to sustain anti crime efforts

CORDILLERA’S top cop assured the continuing efforts of the regional police office’s campaign against criminality and drugs.

PRO-COR director Chief Superintendent Elmo Francis Sarona reiterated the various programs he sees needing improvement.

"I think we should be able to sustain what we have done in 2017 particularly since we have decrease the crimes by almost 26 percent. In our anti crime efforts, we found out that 50 percent of the crimes being committed are drug related, thus the need to intensify our anti-illegal drugs campaign," said Sarona.

The police have identified 21,241 drug personalities with six as remaining targets. Some P8.73 billion illegal drugs were confiscated and destroyed in the region in 2017, highlighted by the P1.9 billion worth of shabu and paraphernalia found in Sta. Marcela, Apayao, and the destruction of marijuana plantations in Tinglayan, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Benguet.

Sarona said no policemen were found to be positive on drug use based on random drug tests.

"If we focus our campaign on our anti-illegal drugs to address the crimes aside from enhancing the management of our operations such as the continuing conduct of checkpoints, going after wanted persons, campaign on loose firearms, and the cultivation of a healthy working relationship with the local government units and our partner agencies, then I think we can sustain the decrease in crimes," Sarona added.

PRO-COR noted a 36 percent reduction in crime volume while gaining a 12 percent crime solution efficiency from 59 percent to 70 percent manifesting its improved skills in solving crimes.

"We will aggressively strengthen our engagement with the community whom we consider as our vital partner in the fight against illegal drugs and criminality," Sarona added. Jonathan Llanes