By Jennifer P. Rendon
For the first seven months of the year, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) recovered around P12 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
Pavia Police Station accounted for P8.4 million or around 70 percent of seized illegal drugs.
Of the 93 drug personalities arrested in the province, 25 were collared by the Pavia Police Station.
“But it should not be misconstrued that Pavia has the biggest problem when it comes to illegal drugs,” according to Major Jojo Tabaloc, Pavia police chief.
Instead, Tabaloc said that the local police are just aggressive in running against illegal drug personalities.
“We don’t rest in just arresting the target. We do follow-up operations until we get to their sources and cohorts,” Tabaloc said.
While operations emanated in Pavia, several big transactions carried by the local police ended up in Iloilo City.
The Pavia Police Station was recognized as the No. 1 municipal police station in Western Visayas when it comes to anti-illegal drugs accomplishments during the recent 119th Police Service Anniversary celebration.
Meanwhile, the IPPO hierarchy said that the pandemic did not deter their operating units in running after drug peddlers operating in the province.
Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas, Iloilo police chief, has lauded IPPO personnel for delivering results on the drug war amidst their preoccupation in the fight against COVID-19.
“This simply shows that we remain focused on our goal of making Iloilo province illegal drug free despite the challenges facing us today,” Lucas said.
Trailing behind Pavia is Sta. Barbara Police Station which posted P2.5 million worth of recovered illegal drugs.
Leganes Police Station is third with P1 million worth of illegal drugs recovered for the period.
Iloilo PPO has filed 126 cases against the 93 persons who were arrested in anti-illegal drugs operations.
“We will never stop running after those who seek to destroy our people. Illegal drug is a menace and it robs its victims of a better tomorrow,” Lucas said.