CEBU CITY, Cebu, May 26 (PIA) -- As the six-year term of Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is about to end in less than two months, the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) reported significant accomplishments on its ongoing campaign against illegal drugs in Central Visayas.

The PRO-7 has been active in doing its role under the current administration’s war against illegal drugs through its continued efforts in coordination with other government agencies and local government units.

PRO-7 records show they were able to seize a total of P4,191,813,589.60 worth of illegal drugs in Region 7 since the Duterte administration started in 2016.

From July 1, 2016 to May 23, 2022, PRO-7 confiscated a total of 574,555.25 grams of shabu with a standard drug price of P3,906,975,557.20, while they also impounded a total of 2,373,650.27 grams of marijuana with a standard drug price of P284,838,32.40.

In line with their anti-illegal drugs prevention activities, PRO-7 conducted a total of 39,639 anti-illegal drugs operations and arrested a total of 54,766 drug personalities (illegal drug pushers and users). 

Based on its May 24 report, there are 1,215 barangays out of the 3,003 total barangays in Central Visayas which were considered as drug-cleared areas, while 116 barangays were already declared as drug-free areas.

The remaining drug-affected barangays in the region stands at 1,672.

Aside from clearing several barangays from the presence of illegal drugs, the PRO-7 together with other law enforcement and drug enforcement agencies successfully declared five drug-cleared municipalities in the region.

The said towns are Poro and San Francisco in Camotes Island, Cebu; Enrique Villanueva in Siquijor; and Madridejos and Santander in the province of Cebu.

“Ang effort nato with the joint forces of other agencies, nagbunga gyud siya kay tungod dili lang ang barangay ang maong na clear lakip napud ang ubang mga municipalities. Dili pud ma clear ang mga drug surrenderers kung ang mga barangay wala mag conduct og mga drug rehab programs,” said PTCol. Maria Aurora Rayos, the chief public information officer of PRO-7, during the Kapihan sa PIA on May 25.

Rayos also praised the participation of the communities which boosted the government’s fight against illegal drugs.

“Magpasalamat gyud mi sa community sa way puas og paghatag og information, ilabi na aware na pud sila kung unsa ba gyud ang epekto sa illegal nga droga. I hope sa community nga dili sila mag duha duga og tug-an sa mga impormasyon dinhi sa ato sa kapulisan,” she said. (RGC/PIA7)