Operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, have seized more than half a million pesos worth of suspected shabu and marijuana and arrested at least 20 people in just one day.
The massive anti-illegal operations were carried out January 25 in the capital city of Dumaguete and in other parts of the province.
The Negros Oriental Provincial Provincial Police Office (NORPPO) has reported that it has confiscated a total of 52.04 grams of “shabu” with a Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P586,796.
Also confiscated were 200 grams of marijuana worth 1,100 pesos during the synchronized anti-drug operations, said Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) provincial team leader Sr. Insp. Ryan Jay Orapa.
Orapa disclosed the conduct of the synchronized anti-drugs operation was upon the orders of newly assumed Negros Island Region 18 regional director, Chief Supt. Conrado Capa.
Chief Supt. Capa made it clear during his recent visit to Negros Oriental that his priority would be to run after illegal drugs in the entire Negros Island Region
Out of 25 police stations all over the province, 23 have submitted reports of accomplishments during the one day synchronized anti-drugs operations from Canlaon City in the north down to Basay in the south.
The remaining two, Jimalalud and Bindoy police stations, have not submitted accomplishment reports.
A total of 20 search warrants were applied for and enforced during that day as well as five buy bust operations or a total of 25 anti-drugs operations carried out all over the province.
As a result, a total of 40 cases were filed for violation of the RA 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002; three cases were filed for violation of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC); 26 persons were arrested while three of them are at large.
One of the highlights of the anti-drugs operations was in barangay Combado, Bacong because the suspect Ritchie Tindog who was armed with a KG-9 machine pistol loaded with live ammunition locked himself inside the Vios car of his wife along with three other companions.
According to Orapa, joint operatives of PAIDSOTG, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headed by Atty. Dominador Cimafranca, the Bacong police headed by Sr. Insp. Rommel Luga and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team from the provincial police command had to use reasonable force to compel the suspect to come out of the vehicle but with extreme precaution because Tindog, also known as “Etching”, put his KG-9 in an assault position and started the engine of the vehicle.
The operatives broke the windshield at the driver’s seat and forced Tindog to come out.
The three others inside the vehicle were handcuffed but were later released because they were negative of any contraband and illegal items in their possession, but were merely friends of the suspect.
Negros Island Region 18 regional police director Chief Supt. Capa during his visit here last January 19 announced that he will not be implementing the quota per police station on the campaign against illegal drugs.
But he stressed that his marching order is to sustain the anti-illegal drugs operations down to the barangay level.
The police chiefs have their orders and they have to deliver, but it does not mean they will be relieved if they failed to obey orders, Capa said.
At times when there are no accomplishments, the police official may just have to present a certification from the barangay or the local government unit declaring that there are no illegal drugs activities in a particular area, Capa added. (PNA)
