CCPO hauls P9.2 million drugs in one week

CEBU, Philippines —  An estimated P9.2 million worth of illegal drugs were seized by the operatives of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) in various operations during the first week of March resulting in the confiscation of a total of 1.3 kilos of shabu and the arrest of 38 individuals.

CCPO director Col. Josefino Ligan said eight of those arrested were high-value targets. Aside from drug suspects, the city police force also arrested 52 individuals involved in illegal gambling from March 1 to 7.

Those arrested for illegal gambling were either involved in tigbakay or illegal cockfight, hantak, and swertres.

"The most common nga atong nadakpan like yesterday, Sunday, is tigbakay,” Ligan said.

Aside from being illegal per se, holding tigbakay also violates health protocols under the modified general community quarantine rules. The city remains under MGCQ status due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ligan said they have also arrested one individual for illegal possession of firearm and seized four loose firearms during the same period. The CCPO also arrested 15 wanted persons.

For violations of local ordinances, the CCPO apprehended 638 individuals during the first week of March. They were turned over to the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE).

On Sunday alone, 23 individuals were apprehended in the mountain barangays. The police have also inspected 26 establishments following Mayor Edgardo Labella’s directive to strictly monitor compliance of liquor ban in the mountain barangays.

The Cebu City Mobile Force (CCMF) has been keeping an eye in the mountain areas after reports that most establishments are not observing the liquor ban. — FPL (FREEMAN)