By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two months into his leadership as Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), it is a promise delivered for Colonel Joeresty Coronica.
When he assumed post on January 27, Coronica’s marching order was to mount an intensified operation against illegal drugs.
From that day on until March 28, different ICPO units conducted 61 anti-illegal drug operations.
Coronica said they only accounted for operations that were ICPO-led.
The series of anti-narcotics operations led to the recovery of 878.3706 grams of suspected shabu valued at P5,972,920.
These operations also led to the arrest of 74 drug personalities, mostly drug pushers, who were charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
Despite the series of operations, Coronica said the illegal drug situation in Iloilo City is not alarming.
In other parts of the country, the operations have also been intensified and confiscation also involved large volumes of illegal drugs.
Coronica said they would also further strengthen their intelligence monitoring since most, if not all, operations are intelligence driven.
It appeared that a good number of illegal drug personalities who were earlier identified had already left Iloilo City.
“But we would continue our relentless operations, as long as there are individuals who would continue to engage in illegal drugs,” he said.
