Major Police Operations Net 36 Suspects and PHP103 Million in Contraband
The Philippine National Police has reported significant breakthroughs in its nationwide law enforcement campaigns, with coordinated operations spanning three days resulting in dozens of arrests and the seizure of contraband valued at over one hundred million pesos.
Wanted Persons Apprehended Across Multiple Regions
From Tuesday through Thursday, police units executed intelligence-driven operations that led to the apprehension of thirty-six individuals facing serious criminal charges. Among those captured were one national-level and twenty-six regional-level Most Wanted Persons, whose alleged crimes include multiple counts of rape, statutory rape, murder, homicide, kidnapping for ransom, syndicated estafa, qualified theft, and various drug-related offenses.
These arrests were conducted across seventeen provinces and cities including Pampanga, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Isabela, Cavite, Batangas, Cebu, Bohol, Davao City, Negros Oriental, Romblon, Surigao del Norte, Mountain Province, Agusan del Norte, Camarines Sur, and Pasig City.
Comprehensive Anti-Drug Campaign Yields Substantial Results
During the same operational period, the PNP intensified its campaign against illegal narcotics, resulting in the arrest of ten drug personalities including seven high-value individuals. This component of the operation led to the confiscation of illegal drugs with an estimated street value of PHP91.6 million.
The drug seizures included:
- More than 1.3 kilograms of suspected shabu seized during buy-bust operations and search warrant implementations in Iloilo City, Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, and Cagayan
- Eradication of over 251,000 marijuana plants and seedlings from large-scale cultivation sites in Benguet, Ilocos Sur, and Kalinga
- Recovery of 217 kilograms of marijuana bricks from these operations
These coordinated efforts with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency delivered a significant blow to the supply side of the illegal drug trade in the country.
Smuggling Crackdown Nets Contraband Cigarettes
Simultaneously, the PNP strengthened its campaign against smuggling activities, resulting in the arrest of five individuals and the confiscation of 187 boxes of smuggled cigarettes valued at PHP12.54 million. Operations conducted in Negros Occidental, Cebu, and Pangasinan led to the seizure of substantial volumes of contraband tobacco products, including cases involving foreign nationals. All confiscated items are scheduled to be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.
Police Leadership Emphasizes Sustained Enforcement
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. emphasized the effectiveness of sustained, intelligence-driven police operations in a statement following the successful operations. "These results show that sustained, intelligence-driven police operations work. Walang puwang ang pagtatago sa batas. Kahit gaano pa katagal o saan man magtago ang mga wanted persons, patuloy naming ipinatutupad ang batas hanggang makamit ang hustisya (There is no use in hiding from the law. No matter how long or where wanted persons hide, we will continue to enforce the law until justice is achieved)," Nartatez declared.
The comprehensive three-day operation demonstrates the PNP's multi-pronged approach to law enforcement, targeting both violent criminals and economic crimes while disrupting the supply chains of illegal substances throughout the archipelago.
