The Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) reported significant gains in its anti-criminality campaign during the first 70 days of Police Brig. Gen. Mariano C. Rodriguez as regional director, citing intensified law enforcement operations that led to hundreds of arrests, major illegal drug and smuggling seizures, and the recovery of firearms across the Cagayan Valley.

In a report covering May 1 to July 9, 2026, PRO2 said it arrested 764 wanted persons, including 156 individuals listed as most wanted at the municipal, provincial, city, and regional levels, and 608 other fugitives.

Among the police units, the Isabela Police Provincial Office recorded the highest number of arrests with 304, followed by the Cagayan Police Provincial Office with 259, reflecting intensified manhunt operations throughout the region.

The region's anti-illegal drug campaign also resulted in the arrest of 197 suspects in 173 operations, including 26 high-value individuals and 171 street-level individuals.

Authorities seized more than 196.50 grams of suspected shabu and 31.40 grams of marijuana, with a combined estimated value exceeding P7.4 million. Among the biggest operations were drug busts in Tuguegarao City worth approximately P2.5 million and in Santiago City worth around P1.4 million.

PRO2 also strengthened its campaign against illegal logging and violations of Presidential Decree No. 705, leading to the arrest of 80 individuals and the confiscation of approximately 23,571 board feet of lumber valued at around P3 million.

In its drive against loose firearms under Republic Act No. 10591, police conducted 333 operations that resulted in the arrest of 55 individuals and the confiscation of 335 firearms. Of the total, 57 were confiscated, 270 were surrendered, and eight were recovered. An additional 151 firearms were voluntarily turned over to authorities for safekeeping through community cooperation.

Meanwhile, anti-smuggling operations led to the seizure of 202 boxes of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of more than P84 million.

Police also recovered 13 stolen motor vehicles and motorcycles through anti-carnapping operations, while 42 individuals were arrested for illegal fishing.

On July 2, PRO2 also recovered a cache of firearms, explosives, ammunition, and other war materiel believed to have been concealed by the Communist Terrorist Group in Sitio Llaga, Barangay Mabuno, Gattaran, Cagayan. Authorities said the operation prevented the armed group from accessing weapons that could have been used in future attacks.

PRO2 likewise highlighted Region 2's declaration as "Insurgency-Free" and its placement under a state of "Stable Internal Peace and Security," attributing the milestone to sustained collaboration among local government units, national agencies, security forces, and local communities.

Under the Department of the Interior and Local Government's Safer Cities Initiative, police documented 143,253 violations of various local ordinances across the region.

The violations included 120,855 traffic code offenses, 9,550 cases of drinking in public places, 4,498 curfew violations involving minors, 3,963 other ordinance violations, 1,562 cases of walking shirtless in public, 1,354 illegal structure and road obstruction violations, 780 anti-littering violations, 392 smoking ban violations, 285 karaoke-related violations, and 11 cases involving the wearing of balaclavas.

PRO2 said most violators were issued fines, while others received warnings or were released in accordance with existing local ordinances.

Rodriguez credited the accomplishments to the collective efforts of police personnel, local government units, partner agencies, and community stakeholders.

"The success of our peace and security initiatives is a testament to the hard work and cooperation of our police personnel, local government units, partner agencies, and the communities we serve. As we uphold the call of 'Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman,' let us remain steadfast in our mission to deliver responsive, accountable, and people-centered policing," Rodriguez said.