Authorities seized around P99.67 million worth of suspected illegal drugs and arrested 51 suspects in intensified operations nationwide last week.
In a statement, Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa took note of the latest anti-drug offensive by PNP units even as most parts of the country are still under general community quarantine to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
He said intensified anti-illegal drugs operations last week resulted in 51 drug suspects being rounded up in 25 separate operations across the country, yielding a total of 7,606.69 grams of shabu and 239,500 fully-grown marijuana plants, all estimated to be worth P99.672 million in the black market.
“The PNP has been consistent in its warning. No let-up in the pursuit of criminals. Our recent accomplishments nationwide validate the PNP’s determination to eradicate threats to the public’s safety and security,” Gamboa said.
Drug suspect Anthony Valerio, 35, was killed in a drug buy-bust operation in Barangay Gaya-gaya, City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan when he engaged arresting officers in an armed confrontation on Friday. His eight cohorts holding a pot session were arrested.
Another drug buy-bust operation in Quezon City also resulted to the arrest of Omar Salliaguia Pagayawan, a 35-year-old Philippine Army reservist of Barangay Hugo Perez, Cavite City; Amel Dipatuan Abdul, 30; and Junaid Desuma Londay, 26. A total of one kilogram of shabu worth PHP6.8 million was seized in the operation.
In Cordillera, police forces in Kalinga province destroyed 239,500 fully-grown marijuana plants estimated to be worth P47.9 million during two days of eradication operations on two separate clandestine marijuana farms in the hinterlands of Tinglayan, Kalinga.
In Metro Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office arrested 29 drug suspects in its intensified buy-bust operations in cities Quezon, Valenzuela, Taguig, Marikina, Manila, Caloocan, San Juan, Parañaque and Pasig.
In other parts of the country, social amelioration program beneficiary Rey Patrick Sangoy Dingal, 36, was arrested along with Harold Glenn Moralde Ytang, 45, who was listed as the 7th most wanted drug personality of Cagayan de Oro City during a service of warrant of arrest at Kingston Hotel in Barangay Kanitoan, Cagayan de Oro City on Friday.
Since June 1, when most parts of the country were placed under GCQ, a total of PHP8.432 billion worth of shabu has been confiscated by the PNP Drug Enforcement Group along with local police units and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.