ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 has declared that no individual is beyond the reach of the law as authorities seized more than P75.9 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested 168 drug suspects across Western Visayas in the first three weeks of June, stressing that anti-drug operations are driven by evidence — not political influence, wealth, or social standing.
The statement came after questions were raised during a June 29 press conference on whether influential personalities or alleged narco-politicians were protecting large-scale drug syndicates operating in the region.
PRO-6 regional director Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said investigators do not speculate on personalities and instead build cases based on evidence that can withstand judicial scrutiny.
“First of all, we share the position of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. on the issue of illegal drugs. For PRO6, whether the confiscation is large or small, it is never something that should be taken lightly,” Tuaño said.
He stressed that the Philippine National Police remains committed to an evidence-based approach in investigating drug cases.
“When it comes to individuals who may be involved in illegal drugs, PRO-6 is guided by evidence. We do not base our operations on personalities. We do not look at a person’s influence or position here in Western Visayas. If you are involved in illegal drugs, the mandate of the Philippine National Police is to arrest you. It doesn’t matter who is behind the illegal drug operation,” he said.
Tuaño emphasized that every anti-drug operation undergoes extensive intelligence gathering and case build-up before arrests are carried out, regardless of the social or political stature of the suspects.
The region’s biggest single drug recovery this year was recorded on June 21 in Barangay Buray, Oton, Iloilo, where authorities confiscated approximately P13.97 million worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation that also led to the arrest of three high-value drug suspects, including two siblings from Molo, Iloilo City.
On the same day, another anti-drug operation in Estancia, Iloilo resulted in the seizure of around P2.47 million worth of suspected shabu, while a separate buy-bust operation in Arevalo, Iloilo City on June 27 yielded another P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs.
According to PRO-6, authorities confiscated more than 11 kilograms of suspected shabu valued at P75.9 million and arrested 168 suspects in separate anti-drug operations throughout Western Visayas during the first three weeks of June alone.
Despite the major drug hauls, Tuaño said the police remain focused on dismantling drug syndicates through sustained intelligence-driven operations rather than on the identities of those allegedly involved.
“Our responsibility is to enforce the law. Whoever is involved in illegal drugs will face police operations once supported by evidence. That has always been the mandate of the Philippine National Police,” he said.
PRO-6 said anti-illegal drug operations will continue across Western Visayas as authorities intensify efforts to identify, arrest, and prosecute individuals involved in the illegal drug trade./PN
