By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 has outperformed its previous week’s anti-drug efforts by approximately 37 percent.
In a series of operations from May 4 to 10, various police units in the region seized 2.835 kilos of shabu from 78 actions against illegal drugs.
These operations are a part of PRO 6’s Birada Semana, an intensified weeklong initiative targeting criminality, fugitives, narcotics, and illicit gambling in March.
The confiscated drugs hold a standard market value of P19,279,088, surpassing the P14,041,032 figure reported last week.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) led with 30 operations, with the yield valued at P2,374,688.
Following NOCPPO, the Iloilo PPO executed 18 operations, capturing drugs worth P2,322,200, while the Bacolod City Police Office carried out 11 operations, resulting in the seizure of P1,278,400 worth of substances.
Notably, the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) 6’s singular operation brought in shabu estimated at P10.2 million.
Brigadier General Jack Wanky, the police chief for Western Visayas, recognized the persistence of the illegal drug trade, fueled by constant demand.
“We continue our arrests, and they continue to introduce drugs. If we need to eliminate this scourge completely, then we will,” he stated.
He described the illegal drug market in the region as operating freely, emphasizing that law enforcement alone isn’t sufficient.
The region’s top cop said that the illegal drug business in the region is working on a free trade.
“That’s why, we always say that this is more than just law enforcement. The problem should be solved using the whole-of-the-nation approach,” he said.
Citing reports from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Wanky acknowledged that many arrestees are either repeat offenders or individuals who had previously taken plea deals.
“Most of them are unemployed after release from prison,” he pointed out, advocating for joint agency efforts to provide employment.
He emphasized the necessity of a robust awareness and education campaign as part of a demand-reduction strategy, acknowledging that while supply-reduction is managed by the police, efforts on reducing demand must be strengthened.
“But with the demand for illegal drugs still being present, siguro kulang pa ang efforts ta,” he said.
