1,323 arrested in police operations

PALO, Leyte — More than 1,300 people were arrested in Eastern Visayas in September as police intensified operations against crime, illegal drugs, environmental violations and other offenses across the region.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 8 recorded 1,323 arrests during the month, part of a campaign that also targeted illegal fishing and logging, loose firearms, gambling, smuggling and wanted persons.

PRO-8 regional director P/BGen. Romano Cardińo said the operations were aimed at combating criminality, protecting the environment and upholding the rule of law.

The largest number of arrests came from the police manhunt campaign, which accounted for 472 wanted persons arrested in 472 operations. These included 60 Most Wanted Persons and 412 Other Wanted Persons.

Illegal fishing operations also produced a significant number of arrests. Police conducted 260 operations, apprehending 419 individuals and confiscating fishing equipment valued at P14.74 million, along with fish worth P192,890.

The campaign against illegal drugs resulted in 143 arrests from 120 operations. Police seized 367.12 grams of illegal drugs with an estimated value of P2.47 million.

Police also stepped up operations against illegal possession of firearms and explosives, conducting 352 operations that led to 34 arrests and the surrender or confiscation of 371 firearms and explosives.

Meanwhile, 52 people were arrested in 137 anti-illegal logging operations. Authorities also seized 22,576.83 board feet of illegally sourced logs and logging equipment valued at P969,367.19.

The anti-insurgency campaign resulted in the surrender of 28 Communist Terrorist Group members and the arrest of another, along with the recovery or surrender of 15 firearms and three explosives.