By Rhoda Grace Saron/PNA
DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has arrested more than 1,000 suspected drug personalities within the 45-day period from December last year to January 15.
DCPO records showed that 854 illegal drug operations have been conducted within the period, 621 of which were buy-bust operations; 20 were the enforcement of search warrants; 34 were the enforcement of arrest warrants; 70 police response; and 109 checkpoint operations.
The operations led to the arrest of 1,031 drug suspects, 20 of whom were considered high-value targets (HVT) and the rest were suspected street-level drug peddlers.
During these operations, police said 48 were killed in shootouts, 14 eluded arrest, and 44 minors were rescued.
Senior Insp. Maria Theresita Gaspan, DCPO spokesperson, said Thursday those who eluded arrest were still charged and considered at-large.
Gaspan said the 44 rescued minors are undergoing intervention programs at the City Social Service Development Office. Minors aged 15 years to less than 18 years who remain legally liable under the law were put under the jurisdiction of the courts.
“We continue to be more aggressive in our campaign against illegal drugs. In fact, we have four operations from January 14 until yesterday (January 16),” Gaspan said.
She said the operations resulted in the seizure of PHP959,200 worth of illegal drugs involving “newly identified drug pushers.”
