By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confiscated a total of P13.6 billion worth of illegal drugs from Jan. 1 to June 21 this year, Interior and Local Government Sec. Benjamin Abalos Jr. said on Monday.
In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Abalos said the amount of narcotics was seized from a total of 23,515 anti-illegal drug operations.
These operations also resulted in the arrest of 28,804 individuals, he said.
The total amount includes 1,779.74 kg of shabu; 3,559.04 kg of dried marijuana; 4,951,655 pieces of marijuana plants; 26.62 kg of cocaine; and 4.17 kg of ecstasy.
“Focusing on the week of June 17 to 21, 2024, the PNP conducted 111 operations, arresting 123 individuals and seizing significant quantities of illegal drugs, including 6,122.89 grams of shabu and 52,001 grams of marijuana, along with 22,340 uprooted marijuana plants. The estimated value of these seizures is P52,343,800.56,” Abalos said.
Meanwhile, Abalos commended the top three performing PNP units in the campaign — the Police Regional Office (PROs) 4A (Calabarzon) and 7 (Central Visayas) and the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG).
From June 17 to 21, Abalos said the PNP’s intensified efforts against most wanted persons led to the arrest of 1,197 wanted individuals, including 347 most wanted persons and 850 other wanted persons.
He said among these arrested persons is former Negros Oriental Gov. Pryde Henry Teves, who was nabbed on June 20 for three counts of violations of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, with a recommended bail of P200,000 per count.
Teves, however, was later released after posting bail of P600,000 for his temporary liberty.
For the campaign against loose firearms, Abalos said the PNP has apprehended 106 individuals for illegal possession of firearms, resulting in the confiscation of 183 firearms — 88 of which have been turned in for safekeeping.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, meanwhile, said they are in the process of revitalizing the 911 emergency hotline to ensure the quick response of police officers to incidents.
“Luma na yung naririnig niyo bakit ambagal ng pulis but ngayon, mabilis na. Eto na yung ginagawa natin and makakakita kayo ng maraming accomplishments, eto na yung sa Bagong Pilipinas, ang gusto ng pulis, ligtas ka,” he added.
