PNP Bicol reports major gains vs illegal drugs, crimes in Q1

By Connie Calipay

The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol seized some P22.3 million worth of illegal drugs from 241 police operations for the 1st quarter of from January to March this year.

A recent report from the Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) showed that two high-value target individuals died in a buy-bust operations, 272 drug suspects arrested, and confiscated some 365.80 grams of marijuana and 3285.32 grams of shabu.

In its campaign against loose firearms, police seized 108 firearms without a license, 14 were surrendered and 22 recovered.

On illegal gambling, 191 operations resulted in the arrest of 569 individuals with over P226,000 total bets.

“Manhunt operations were conducted to ensure the arrest of most wanted persons in the region. A total of 1,390 wanted persons were arrested for the first quarter of the year,” Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, PRO-5 director, said in a statement.

Also included in the report was the arrest of eight members of organized crime groups in 10 police operations.

Within the same period, the PNP Bicol and the Philippine Army arrested 46 members of the communist and local terrorist groups, 59 surrendered and seven died in different operations. (PNA)