Operations net over P28M drugs

CEBU, Philippines — Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 seized over P28 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested 189 individuals during a simultaneous police operations over the weekend.

A string of anti-criminality operations dubbed as Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operation (SACLEO) from February 16 to 18 resulted in the seizure of at least four kilos of shabu worth P28.8 million.

There were also 189 persons arrested for various crimes such as illegal drugs, illegal gambling, illegal possession of firearms, and those who have pending warrant of arrest.

"Kini nagpakita nga wala’y hunong ang inyong Police Regional Office 7 sa pagdakop, conduct og police operations kay mao man gyud ni instruction sa atong regional director, Police Brigadier General Anthony Aberin," said PRO-7 spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare.

The biggest drug haul recently was in Dauis, Bohol wherein an estimated P14.6 million worth of shabu was confiscated during a buy-bust operation. On Monday, another operation was conducted by the joint police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 operatives in Sitio Mangga, Barangay Calamba, Cebu City.

The operation resulted in the arrest of three individuals and the dismantling of a suspected drug den.

Police identified those who were arrested as Eduardo Talingting, 51, unemployed; Edlin Caballes, 41, a habal-habal driver; and Constantino Bunal III, 38, unemployed.

Seized from them were nine packs of suspected shabu weighing around 11.6 grams worth P78,880. Operatives also recovered the buy-bust money and various drug paraphernalia.

Leia Alcantara, information officer of the PDEA-7, said that the operation was conducted based on information relayed by a concerned citizen. The suspects were placed under surveillance for three weeks.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Protection (COSAP), together with the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), launched the fourth batch of a community-based drug rehabilitation program yesterday morning in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City.

Jonah John Rodriguez, head of COSAP, said there were over 200 individuals under the drug watchlist, and Barangay Pasil was classified as a severely drug-affected barangay.

Rodriguez said they conducted house visits with these individuals and were asked to join the program. Of the 200 individuals, around 60 of them were present yesterday.

"Sa mga remaining nga wala karon, basin kato, naay namatay na, naay napriso kay e-tabbing man na nato nga kani siya napriso, cannot be located or deceased," Rodriguez said.

He added that the recovery coaches for the said initiative were formerly drug addicts who have recovered and changed their lives over the years to serve as inspiration to these individuals.

"That's why sila gyud atong gikuha because mas makasabot sila sa kahimtang aning mga tawhana. Mas makahibalo sila unsaon paghaw-as aning mga tawhana from where they are now, mao ng naa tay mga kalihukan sad gyud," he explained.

The community-based drug rehabilitation program, Atong Gikahayan Alang sa Kausaban (AGAK), would last for four months, and individuals who engage in the initiative would be given interventions to help them recover. Random drug tests would also be conducted for them.

Rodriguez added that their goal in the program is to help these individuals, de-list them from the drug watchlist, and help them recover from drug addiction. Additionally, he cited that this is one of the parameters for the barangay to be declared drug-cleared.

From 2021–2023, at least 25 barangays were already declared drug-cleared. These include barangays Sto. Niño, Sinsin, Parian, Buot, Pamutan, Sudlon 1 and 2, Toong, Sapangdaku, San Antonio, Basak Pardo, Lusaran, Kinasang-an, Adlaon, Agsungot, Binaliw, Budlaan, Kamagayan, Kalubihan, Tabunan, Punta, Kasambagan, Mabini, Cambinocot, and Zapatera.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director, Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, expressed his appreciation to Mayor Michael Rama, COSAP, and barangay officials for the initiative.

Dalogdog said the initiative is beneficial to their aggressive campaign against dangerous drugs.

"Dili lang kanang maderecho nato silag dakop, kun dili, sila makahuna-huna nga naa pa diay tay paglaum, naa pa tay tsanta. Mag-undergo ta aning community-based drug rehabilitation program para magbagong buhay ta ug dili na ta mag-apil apil sa illegal nga drugs," Dalogdog said. — (FREEMAN)