The Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified nationwide operations to ensure public safety ahead of the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days this week.

These efforts resulted in the arrest of 11 most-wanted individuals and the seizure of more than P16.5 million worth of illegal drugs and smuggled goods within a 24-hour period.

Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez vowed that “criminality will find no safe haven under our watch.”

He added that police are “tirelessly working... to ensure that communities across the Philippines are safe, secure, and ready to celebrate this season without fear.”

Between 10 p.m. on 30 October and 9 a.m. on 31 October, PNP units across the country carried out high-impact operations. The coordinated efforts, involving local police, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and Army intelligence units, led to the arrest of 11 wanted suspects.

The suspects, ranging in age from 26 to 70, were wanted for serious crimes including murder, rape, statutory rape, and acts of lasciviousness. The arrests were conducted in separate operations across areas including Baguio City, Tarlac, Albay, Cavite, Laguna, Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

In addition to the arrests, authorities made significant breakthroughs in the fight against illegal drugs and smuggling, seizing a total of P16,559,000 in drugs and contraband. Key drug busts involving shabu were reported in the Visayas and Luzon.

Over at Lucena City, Quezon, a buy-bust operation yielded 875 grams of shabu valued at P5.95 million. Furthermore, two high-value targets were caught in Leganes, Iloilo, with 330 grams of shabu worth P2.24 million, and police in Batad, Iloilo, confiscated 150 grams of shabu worth P1.02 million.

Anti-smuggling operations also led to the seizure of over 634,000 smuggled baby diapers valued at P6.35 million in Bustos, Bulacan, where a foreign national was apprehended. Separately, police seized premium moist tobacco, nicotine, and caffeine pouches worth P1 million from a Makati City store.

The PNP assured the public that security measures remain in full force to ensure safe and peaceful observances in cemeteries, transport hubs, and public areas as the nation observed the special non-working holiday.