PALO, Leyte — The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) recorded significant gains in its law enforcement campaigns to maintain peace and order across Eastern Visayas from 1 January to 31 December 2025.

PRO-8 said it conducted 1,085 anti-illegal drug operations, resulting in the arrest of 1,310 suspects. Authorities seized illegal drugs with a combined weight of 23,194.96 grams, including 15,768.79 grams of shabu, 773.76 grams of marijuana, and 6,652.41 grams of cocaine, with an estimated total value of P113,913,928.61.

In its anti-insurgency campaign, PRO-8 said it facilitated the surrender of 204 members of communist groups. Authorities also recovered 60 firearms and 14 explosives, while 34 communist rebels were arrested during the period.

Operations against illegal gambling led to 709 operations, resulting in the arrest of 1,891 individuals and the confiscation of gambling money amounting to P361,227, the police said.

PRO-8 also intensified efforts against illegal fishing, conducting 1,990 operations and arresting 3,702 violators. Confiscated fish and fishing paraphernalia were valued at P173,060,055.

In the campaign against illegal logging, PRO-8 carried out 436 operations, leading to the arrest of 513 individuals and the seizure of logs and related paraphernalia worth P6,600,750.03.

Through its campaign against loose firearms, PRO-8 conducted 1,768 operations, which resulted in the surrender of 1,345 firearms and 14 explosives, the confiscation of 249 firearms and eight explosives, and the recovery of 20 firearms and three explosives.

Meanwhile, intensified operations against wanted persons led to the arrest of 4,513 individuals, including 566 most wanted persons and 3,947 other wanted persons, following 4,483 operations.