Operatives of the Philippine National Police seized P6.05 billion worth of illegal drugs and arrested 24,197 drug suspects in the first five months of 2023, the country’s top cop said Monday.
The seized drugs and arrested suspects came off 18,317 anti-drug police operations nationwide from 1 January to 27 May 2023, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. told reporters during Monday’s press briefing held at Camp Crame.
Acorda lauded the National Capital Region Police Office headed by Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo for their accomplishment over the weekend, during which they nabbed two high-value individuals in a drug
buy-bust operation that resulted in the confiscation of approximately 3,800 grams of shabu with an estimated drug price of P25.8 million in Caloocan City.
He added that for the period, the PNP confiscated 11,417 loose firearms from 3,599 persons who were arrested.
During the same period, police units received 6,513 firearms for safekeeping and filed 1,783 cases in court.
He added that a total of 29,383 persons wanted by the law were arrested by PNP units in police operations while 176 surrendered to the authorities.
Acorda said the third week of May showed the continuing decline in index crimes by 9.71 percent from 16,652 to 15,035 for the same period year-on-year.
“From the period of 1 January 2023 to 27 May 2023 the following crimes decreased as compared to the same period last year: Focus crimes which include murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, rape and carnapping of motor vehicles and motorcycles decreased by 9.76 percent from 16,566 to 14,949 cases. Incidents of carnapping of motor vehicles recorded the highest decrease of 26.62 percent, from 139 to 102 cases,” Acorda said.
Meanwhile, Acorda also ordered to mobilize more than 27,000 personnel to assist the local government units in responding to the threat of super typhoon “Betty” which is now bringing heavy rains, especially in Northern Luzon.
Acorda said police forces were instructed to coordinate with local officials for possible preemptive evacuation, rescue, and relief operations, and areas that are now experiencing bad weather conditions, as well as those which would likely be hit by “Betty.”
“Betty,” with the international name “Mawar, “entered the Philippine area of responsibility over the weekend and is now moving closer to the tip of Northern Luzon, particularly in the Cagayan Valley region.
Acorda earlier ordered police commanders in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative region to mobilize all Regional Mobile Force Battalions, including the Provincial Mobile Force Companies as part of the government’s response.
“The PNP National Headquarters Critical Incident Management Committee, of which I am the chairman, has been activated to monitor, coordinate, and direct all disaster response efforts of PNP Units,” Acorda said.
“PNP units at the municipal, city, and provincial levels are under specific instructions to keep all national highways and thoroughfares clear of road debris and obstruction to ensure unhampered passage of emergency vehicles, rescue equipment, and relief aid convoys to disaster-affected areas,” he added.
Acorda said they are now also coordinating with local disaster risk reduction and management officials and the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the prepositioning of food packs and other forms of assistance.
He said the warehouses and distribution hubs of food packs and relief goods are now secured by local police forces.
Currently, the PNP has 4,650 trained personnel for water search and rescue, 7,371 trained personnel for search and rescue, 8,806 life vests, 77 SAR boats, and 1,730 units of search and rescue equipment vehicles consisting of 1,496 personnel carriers, and 234 units of troop carrier, including 625 portable electric generator sets.
“These vehicles will be utilized whenever there is a need to relocate those who will be affected by super typhoon ‘Betty’,” said Acorda.