AT LEAST seven suspected drug pushers were killed and more than 800 others were arrested in three days of police anti-drugs operations during the Holy Week.
In a press briefing Monday, PNP Chief Ronaldo dela Rosa revealed that four of the slain suspects were from Central Luzon; and one each in Southern Tagalog, Central Mindanao, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The killing of the seven drug suspects and the arrest of 811 individuals were part of the 505 police anti-illegal drugs operations during the same period, Dela Rosa said.
To keep the observance of the Holy Week, Dela Rosa said the PNP decided not to conduct Tokhang operations since such activity was only allowed during regular working days and during office hours.
“This proves there is no let up in our anti-illegal drugs operations,” he said.
Dela Rosa also noted a generally peaceful observance of the Holy Week despite 16 violent incidents tallied between security forces and New People’s Army rebels and other criminals in Luzon and Mindanao that erupted Thursday and Saturday last week.
Records showed the series of fighting sparked in Misamis Oriental, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Compostella Valley, Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur and in Sulu.
During the Holy Week, the PNP operations center recorded 10 vehicular accidents, 43 drowning incidents, two theft incidents, three physical injuries cases, three sea mishaps and one each of acts of lasciviousness, electrocution, and arson.
Dela Rosa said the alert levels implemented nationwide during the Holy Week would remain to ensure the safety of all returning Filipinos to Metro Manila from the provinces.