In a coordinated effort to eliminate criminal activities across the Ilocos Region, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 1 successfully seized contraband and drugs valued at ₱86 million and arrested 282 individuals through its Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO).
Some of the arrested individuals include the capture of 91 wanted persons, including one who appears in the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Most Wanted list, and eight high-profile suspects in the city and municipal levels.
The 82 remaining apprehensions included the arrest of 82 wanted individuals for committing various crimes.
Significant drug confiscated
Authorities also confiscated a significant amount of illegal substances from 55 arrested suspects, including more than 12,000 grams of shabu and around 70 grams of dried marijuana leaves, with an estimated amount of more than ₱86 million.
Illegal gambling was also a focus during the three-day police operations, leading to the seizure of more than ₱43,000 in gambling money and the apprehension of 129 individuals.
A significant number of loose firearms were also either surrendered or recovered, with 19 firearms deposited for safekeeping and 87 voluntarily surrendered.
Nine small firearms were also recovered from seven arrested individuals, significantly contributing to the PRO 1’s campaign against loose firearms.
Another highlight in the operations is the voluntary surrender of two members of a criminal gang in the Ilocos Region, underscoring the broad impact of the operations.
Ongoing efforts for crime prevention
Efforts to rid the region’s streets of prohibited drugs are ongoing, evidenced by the recent surrender of ₱6 million worth of shabu in Candon City, Ilocos Sur which was found floating in the sea approximately 14 nautical miles off the coast of the city on Aug. 22.
On the same day, a buy-bust operation in San Fernando City, La Union, resulted in the seizure of shabu valued at over ₱353,000, preventing these illegal drugs from reaching the city’s streets.
In a separate operation on Aug. 21, a marijuana plantation was uncovered and destroyed in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur.
The plantation was discovered by the PRO 1 during counterinsurgency operations in the area.
A total of 1,925 fully-grown marijuana plants worth ₱385,000, along with marijuana seedlings valued at ₱80,000 and 1 kilogram of dried marijuana leaves worth ₱120,000, were eradicated during the operation.
Proactive crime prevention
PRO 1 Regional Director, Police Brigadier General Lou F. Evangelista said that the three-day operations highlight their proactive approach in crime prevention, ensuring safety of individuals and families in communities throughout the region on July 8-10.
“This three-day aggressive police operation aims to enhance community safety and reduce criminal activities in our region. Our police officers collaborated tirelessly to execute thorough interventions and patrols, resulting in several significant accomplishments,” Evangelista said.
Evangelista adds that the significant accomplishment in a short period can be attributed to the work ethic and sacrifices of police officers who put their lives on the line to perform their sworn duties.
“I am grateful for the hard work, skill, and sacrifice of our police officers here in Region 1,” Evangelista added.
Evangelista further says that the three-day operations underscore the PRO 1’s commitment to ensure the security and safety not just of Ilocos Region’s residents but also its tourists, signaling a safer region for enhanced tourism activities.
The PRO 1 envisions the activity to show the results of effective collaboration within the police force and their broader goal of creating a safer environment for everyone in the Ilocos Region. (MJTAB/CCMT PIA La Union)
