ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has reported that it confiscates an average of six kilograms of shabu every month across Western Visayas, based on its assessment over the past three months.
Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, PRO-6 director, said in a press conference on October 7 that the figure reflects the continued prevalence of the illegal drug trade in the region despite intensified operations by law enforcement.
“Based on our assessment, we are confiscating an average of six kilos of shabu every month. This shows that illegal drugs remain present in Western Visayas,” Ligan said.
He admitted that while many drug personalities have been arrested, others quickly take their place because of the lucrative nature of the trade.
“We have already arrested a lot of individuals, but many continue to replace them. The illegal drug trade is like a tax-free business — that’s why people are still drawn to it,” he explained.
Ligan emphasized that under his leadership, PRO-6’s main directive is to sustain efforts to reduce illegal drug supply and arrest offenders at all levels.
“Our campaign against illegal drugs will continue. We will not stop as long as there are people selling, using, and distributing shabu in our region,” he said.
In his first 100 days as the region’s top cop from June 19 to September 26, 2025, Ligan reported that the PRO-6 conducted 391 anti-drug operations, which resulted in the arrest of 192 high-value targets and 333 street-level individuals. The operations also led to the confiscation of 19,687.94 grams of shabu and marijuana valued at more than P132.7 million.
Ligan reiterated the commitment of the regional police office to remain relentless in the fight against illegal drugs.
“Our goal is to catch everyone involved in this illegal activity. The lives of our youth and the safety of our communities are what’s at stake here,” the PRO-6 director concluded./PN
