By Gail Momblan/Philippine News Agency
ILOILO CITY — The Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6) has arrested a total of 889 drug personalities from January to May 20 this year.
Lt. Col. Joem Malong, PRO 6 spokesperson, said the arrest of the drug personalities were the result of 713 operations.
“On the average, our police conducted at least 48 police operations against drugs for a week,” said Malong in an interview Tuesday.
Based on the data of the Regional Oversight Committee on Illegal Drugs, the highest arrested number of drug personalities was 70 and was recorded from February 12 to 18, 2019.
The PRO 6 is currently targeting around 1,700 suspects on the drug watchlist.
Malong said the number of watch-listed varies every week as offices of the provincial police and city police are required to reload the number of drug personalities.
“The arrested persons in almost five months of operations are the result of the intensified conduct, with of course the commitment of our Regional Director Brig. Gen. John Bulalacao,” she said.
When it comes to the demand and supply of drugs in the region, Malong said the supply became expensive which means that the “drive on demand reduction” of the police and other agencies is successful.
“Aside from police operations or the iron hand approach, we also have the soft hand approach which is also an effective way in our campaign against illegal drugs,” she added.
The Regional Oversight Committee on Illegal Drugs is yet to consolidate its data on the volume and amount of drugs confiscated.
Malong said Bulalacao is satisfied with the performance of the police units but he continues to sustain the illegal drugs campaign to arrest the remaining personalities.
Lt. Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General, who was in this city for a speaking engagement on Monday also expressed his satisfaction on the performance of the region in curbing illegal drugs.
“They (PRO 6) don’t talk much about it but we have a record of that in the national headquarters and we can be proud of the PRO 6. The volume, demand, and the supply of illegal drugs in region 6 has significantly decreased,” Cascolan said.
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