PRO 7 cops seize P40M worth of drugs in 3 mos.
IN A span of three months, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 seized some P40 million worth of shabu in its campaign against illegal drugs.
“This will go on. We will never stop. We started small and now it’s increasing exponentially,” said Senior Supt. Conrado Capa, PRO 7 deputy regional director for operations.
The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) has the most number of arrests at 290 people. The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), on the other hand, confiscated the most number of shabu at 1,030.50 grams.
From July to September this year, the PRO 7 conducted 674 operations that resulted in the arrest of 901 suspected drug pushers and users.
The total drug haul was 3,447.91 grams or P40,685,338, based on the value set by the Dangerous Drugs Board. Each gram is worth P11,800.
Because of the intensified campaign of PRO 7 against illegal drugs, the regional police headquarters, under the leadership of Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Bañas, was awarded this month by Camp Crame as the top performer in the campaign.
Compliance
During yesterday’s Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP) forum, Capa said some 90 percent of all police stations in Central Visayas have complied with their directive against illegal drugs.
Each police station had been directed to conduct two operations based on search warrants issued against suspected drug personalities in their areas.
Capa, however, assured the public that police stations are not pressured into conducting operations that could only lead to arresting innocent individuals. All operations have to be authorized and based on the list of drug personalities that officials have submitted.
While other police units are focused on stamping out the illegal drug trade, Senior Insp. Sandly Sabang of PRO 7’s regional police community relations division (RPCRD) said they are intensifying efforts to “reduce” the demand for illegal drugs.
This means that they are reminding police stations to also conduct symposiums or seminars, especially in schools, regarding the ill-effects of illegal drugs.
Supt. Arnel Banzon, CCPO's deputy director for administration, said they noticed that teenagers, especially out-of-school youths, are mostly the ones who use drugs.
“That's why if they don't have the money anymore to buy illegal drugs, they resort to criminal activities,” he said.
Police officers in Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO), for their part, are getting in touch with the community as part of their “demand reduction” strategy.
“Other police officers roam the barangays while others conduct anti-drug operations,” said Chief Insp. Rex Lomente, LLCPO's Operations Branch chief.