BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO – The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) made a significant stride in its operational efforts, particularly in the war against illegal drugs, throughout 2023.
Western Visayas’ police forces, under the leadership of PRO-6 director Brigadier General Sidney N. Villaflor, 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.
Furthermore, total confiscations in 2023 were valued at around P390,977,787, marking a significant increase from the preceding year’s P259,125,359.
In its efforts against loose firearms, 579 individuals were arrested, 573 firearms confiscated, and 3,660 surrendered or deposited.
The campaign against wanted persons also saw success, with 6,465 most wanted persons and other wanted persons apprehended.
Moreover, PRO-6 executed 844 operations against illegal fishing activities, leading to the arrest of at least 2,277 persons and the confiscation of P2,177,965 worth of fish.
The region’s police force also reported the arrest of 36 Communist Terrorist Group members, 91 surrenders, 158 withdrawals of support, 41 encounters resulting in fatalities, and the surrender or deposit of 275 firearms and 209 explosives.
Villaflor expressed gratitude to other government agencies and the community. He emphasized the importance of collective support in ensuring a safer and more peaceful Western Visayas.
“We cannot win this fight alone; we need the support of other government agencies and the community, especially in our campaign against illegal drugs in the region,” he said./PN
