ILOILO City – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has vowed to intensify its campaign against illegal drugs and high-value targets for 2024.
Deputy Regional Director for Administration Brigadier General Archival Macala, PRO-6’s officer-in-charge, said there will be no let up against drug peddlers and they are targeting high-value individuals.
“This time the PRO-6 will double its efforts and we will hit them hard. We have to strengthen our barangay intelligence network to get solid information on the movements of drug peddlers and get trusted assets who could penetrate the drug groups. Ang importante ma-prevent natin ang paglaganap ng druga,” Macala said.
The PRO-6 had coordinated with other government forces to help them monitor the entry of illegal drugs through local ports across Western Visayas.
“Patibayin natin through our counterparts ang pagbantay ng mga local ports kasi dito dinadaan ang druga at kapag makapasok sila, police naman ang mag-conduct ng operation sa kanila. Dapat tayo magtulongan sa pagsugpo ng druga,” Macala added.
The PRO-6 made a significant stride in its operational efforts, particularly in the war against illegal drugs, throughout 2023.
Under the leadership of PRO-6 director Brigadier General Sidney N. Villaflor, the regional police force carried out a total of 2,112 drug bust operations last year, an increase from the 1,626 operations in 2022.
As a result, 2,873 drug suspects were apprehended, a rise from the 1,999 individuals collared in the preceding year.
According to PRO-6 records, the confiscation of shabu almost doubled from 37,909 grams in 2022 to 57,465 grams in 2023, while marijuana confiscation saw a decrease from 11,155 grams to 1,789 grams.
Total confiscations in 2023 were valued at around P390,977,787, marking a significant increase from the preceding year’s P259,125,359./PN
