More than 12,000 barangays have been cleared from illegal drugs since the start of the Duterte administration’s crackdown on illegal drugs in 2016, the Philippine National Police said on Tuesday.
The announcement coincided with authorities reporting they arrested in Mandaluyong City three more members of a syndicate engaged in drug trafficking in Metro Manila and seized P6.8 million worth of shabu.
The suspects—Raihana Pontino, 37; Aliola Sultan, 24, and Jassir Panggaga, 23,—were arrested by elements of the National Capital Region Police Office-Drug Enforcement Unit, Mandaluyong City Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency during a buy-bust operation along Shaw Boulevard late Monday night.
During the command conference in Camp Crame, Maj. Gen. Mao Aplasca, PNP Director for Operations, said at least 12,177 out of the 42,045 barangays (villages) in the country have been declared drug-cleared from July 1, 2016 to May 31, 2019.
He said Region 1 (Ilocos Region) had the highest number of drug-cleared barangays with 1,967, followed by Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) with 1,919 and Region 6 (Western Visayas) with 852.
The National Capital Region, (88.69 percent); Region 3 (Central Luzon), 75.50 percent; Region 5 (Bicol Region), 72.89 percent; and Region 7 (Central Visayas), 76.36 percent were the most affected regions by the proliferation of illegal drugs.
Based on PNP data, Aplasca said 1,283,409 drug suspects surrendered, 240,565 individuals were arrested and 6,600 drug suspects died during 153,273 anti-illegal drugs operations in the said period.
According to NCRPO Director Guillermo Eleazar, “These persons have been the subject of illegal drugs operation for several times in Pasig City but managed to escape.
“They are very elusive but the efforts by the authorities paid off due to continuous intelligence build up.”
Eleaazar said the suspects were members of a syndicated criminal gang connected to the group of Muslims headed by Ahmin Buratong, now serving jail sentence for illegal drug trafficking at the New Bilibid Prison.
“The group continues operating in Metro Manila and Rizal province,” he said.
Recovered from the suspects were 15 plastics containing a total of one kilo of shabu, eight bundles of P1,000 bills and a silver Toyota Revo with registration plate number XGP-331 used by the suspects in the delivery of illegal drugs.
In a press briefing, Eleazar revealed that one of the suspects had been formerly arrested last year in Pasig City by the NCRPO Regional Special Operations Unit having in possession of illegal drugs and firearms but managed to post bail.
“We have to pursue our investigation and find out their source and clients,” he said.
Complaints of violation of Section 5 and 11 in relation to Section 26 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2012) are being prepared for filing in the proper court against the suspects.
Last week, the NCRPO arrested three suspected drug dealers and also seized more than P6.8 million worth of shabu.
The suspects were Rudy Kidlat, 20; Mark Anthony Alcantara, 32, and Rona Valenzuella, 37, all residents of Pasay City.
Recovered from the suspects were 10 pieces of plastic packs containing one kilo of shabu worth P6.8 million, a boodle money worth P1 million, a weighing scale, and a red Suzuki car used by the suspects in the drug trade.
Eleazar assured the public that the NCRPO was on “its leap of maximizing its optimum capacity for the continuing fight against illegal drugs.”
