MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has tasked its regional offices to submit the top 10 list of “high-value” targets (HVTs) involved in illegal drug trade.
PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa said the submission aims to intensify the intelligence-driven anti-illegal drugs campaign against upper and middle-level “high-value” suspects involved in trafficking of illegal drugs that are 50 kilograms or more.
“Pinapa-submit namin ‘yung regional offices, but initially pina-submit ko sila ng top 10 but it can go to at least to top 20 or even more,” Gamboa said in a press conference on Monday.
“Kaya ako nagpapa-submit ng top ten so that we’re able to determine in terms of priority kasi ang una nating gusto ma-identify at ma-neutralize, ibig sabihin ma-applyan natin ng search warrant or mahuli natin sa buy-bust,” he added.
Gamboa noted the PNP is closely monitoring the illegal drugs problem in Regions VI, VII, IX and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
“Of course meron din kaming priority sa national. There is a continuing appreciation of the drug problem in the regional level and down,” Gamboa said.
“Even the President has a directive ‘yung sa HVTs which you cannot actually neutralize kapag hindi sya evidence-based. So it will be all evidence-based,” he added./PN
