The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 has seized P119.82 million worth of illegal drugs and reported no death during anti-drug operations conducted in Central Visayas during the first 30 days of leadership of Regional Director Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba.
In a news statement issued on Tuesday, Alba said the success of the anti-criminality operations in Central Visayas that yielded several arrests and confiscation of large quantities of illegal drugs and other contraband due largely to a new approach to the anti-criminality and anti-insurgency campaign for the past 30 days under his leadership.
For the first 30 days after Alba took the helm as the Regional Director of PRO-7, from October 13 to November 12, a consolidated report showed no death during 554 anti-drug operations conducted in Central Visayas that resulted in the arrest 766 persons involved in illegal drugs, with 46 of them classified as high-value individuals, while 447 are street-level individuals involved in illegal drug activities.
As of November 13, data showed 16,463.08 grams of shabu were confiscated with a drug price value of P111,948,944, while 65,257.80 grams of fully grown marijuana plants valued at P7,830,936, including 20 capsules of ecstasy worth P34,000, and two grams of cocaine worth P10,600 were seized during the same period.
Lapu-Lapu City Police Office has the biggest haul of illegal drugs in one month from October 13 to November 13, 2022, with 7,331.46 grams of shabu seized worth P49,853,928 and 254.97 grams of marijuana seized valued at P30,596.40, while Cebu City Police Office came second followed by the Cebu Police Provincial Office.
In the same period, Alba said PRO-7 conducted 789 operations with 129 arrests of most wanted persons and 688 other wanted persons sought by the court to stand trial for various crimes.
Cebu Police Provincial Office has the most number of total arrests province wide with 252 followed by Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office with 218 and Cebu City Police Office with 158.
The PRO-7 reported 306 operations against loose firearms that resulted in the arrest of 66 persons and the recovery of 329 firearms and five explosives.
The Cebu Police Provincial Office has the most number of firearms seized/recovered and surrendered with 145, followed by Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office with 75 and Cebu City Police Office with 36.
While 1,147 persons were arrested for engaging in various forms of illegal gambling activities, cash bets of P132,777 were confiscated during its 506 operations.
Cebu City Police Office ranked No. 1 in the most number of arrests in the conduct of illegal gambling operations, followed by the Cebu Police Provincial Office and Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.
“With the positive development of recalibrating police operations under my watch anchored on the MKK= K and the Revitalized Kasimbayanan Program of Philippine National Police [PNP] Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., and Team PNP Region 7’s three basic objectives for peace and order to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime and reduce disorder, we are committed to the protection of life, the security of property and the highest level of respect and professionalism to the people we swore to serve,” he said.
Last November 11, Alba initiated a forum with faith-based leaders in the region, which was the first to happen in Central Visayas.
The activity was participated by Most Reverend Jose A. Palma duly represented by Msgr. Camilo Alia, HP, Imam Onasis Omar Balt, Pastor Evarose Cichon, Founding President, Cebu Life Changing Christian Ministries International, Mr. Arnold Bustamante, President, members of media, and other invited faith-based groups, staff, station commanders and virtual attendees.
Alba said the activity aims to engage faith-based groups’ life/values, coaches, and spiritual community advisers to assist PRO-7 in reaching out to their sectors of the community for the successful implementation of the PNP Kasibayanan programs, projects, and activities.
He also reminded the participants of the importance and main goal of the Kasimbayanan project.
“Reduction of crime rate is the result of a successful Kasimbayanan accomplishment. By working together, the police, the community, and the church can reduce the fear and incidence of crime and improve the quality of life in the community as vital to peace, order, and progress,” Alba said.
Further, he said bold and aggressive moves and activities in engaging the people of Central Visayas showcased by commanders on the ground down to the stations, which are published through social media platforms in a form of press releases, and briefings, to promote transparency and accountability.
“With all these achievements, I extend my wholehearted gratitude for everyone’s cooperation and hard work. I commend Team PNP Region 7 for a Job well done. In my first month working with you, you never failed to display your highest level of preparedness in performing your tasks with integrity, strength, and enthusiasm. This endeavor will assist us greatly in reducing crime and eliminating blight. We share a common interest with the community and I urge you to do your part to keep our community safe for the future generation. Energized vigor in doing our tasks properly and with much confidence because we are fortified with ample connectivity, critical thinking, and enhanced capabilities. I cannot do this alone, but together we can accomplish great things in all our undertakings for the people of Central Visayas,” said Alba.
“Team PNP Region 7 could have not successfully done all these without the eagerness and support of the local government units, partner government agencies, the business community, and force multipliers who were there with us side by side in our peacekeeping operations. By working together, we can focus more on policing strategies to address problems and provide a safe and secure community through quality law enforcement services and programs with the respect to human rights and the highest regard for the rule of law in the Central Visayas community,” he added. -30-