ILOILO City – The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) seized P26 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested 145 drug suspects in three months.
From April 19 to July 19 this year, various police stations in the province conducted a total of 113 anti-drug operations, which resulted in the confiscation of 3,802 grams of shabu.
Colonel Bayani Razalan, director of the IPPO, also said that the tracker teams carried out 315 manhunt operations, which led to the arrest of 317 fugitives, including 62 most wanted persons.
The IPPO also seized 174 loose firearms, of which 125 were surrendered and 32 were confiscated from police operations. Seventeen more firearms with expired documents were deposited to different police stations for safekeeping.
In the campaign against illegal fishing in coordination with the municipal Bantay Dagat task forces, 240 “illegal fishers” were apprehended and 11 fishing boats were impounded and approximately P405,000 worth of assorted fish were confiscated from a total of 93 anti-illegal fishing operations.
Also, of the 98 successful enforcements of the provincial ordinance against illegal quarrying, the IPPO caught 103 violators and impounded their delivery trucks.
Iloilo cops also conducted 34 anti-illegal gambling operations and arrested 70 individuals who yielded P41,000 bet money.
Razalan, upon his assumption into office on April 19, he emphasized that he will give focus on the campaign against illegal drugs, fishing, gambling, and quarry; wanted persons; and loose firearms.
“This is now the result of the response of the police chiefs and other personnel to my call,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to the Ilonggo community for the support.
“We have achieved these milestones because of your unwavering trust and cooperation. I appeal to everyone to continue supporting us as we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring your safety and well-being. Together, we shall realize our vision of a safer, more secure, drug-free, and progressive Iloilo Province,” Razalan added./PN
