THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has seized an estimated of P12,200,765.50 worth of illegal drugs from January to June this year.
Chief Inspector Sherlock Gabana, public information officer of BCPO, presented the report in a press conference at the BCPO headquarters Thursday.
The BCPO has recovered an estimated 813.3845 grams of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).
Gabana said the BCPO has conducted 193 operations that led to the arrests of 298 persons in the first six months.
Of the total number, 20 high-value target, 32 street-level targets, and 246 newly-identified drug personalities were arrested. A total of 445 cases filed.
Among the high-value target drug personalities that were arrested in the first half of the year were Myla Velano of Barangay Singcang-Airport, who yielded an estimated P1,020,000 worth of suspected shabu in a drug bust at Barangay Granada on June 21; and Jeffrey Virgel of Barangay 27, who also yielded P3,750,000 worth of dangerous drugs in a buy-bust at Barangay 33.
Also arrested were Ginna Mariga, 34, of Barangay 31, a high-value target; and her elder brother Ismael Mariga, 37, of Bago City, that resulted to the confiscation of P600,000 worth of suspected shabu.
Joseph Tan, 37; Chito Garrido, 35; and Rodel Parcon, 37, a barangay employee, also yielded P1.2 million worth of drugs in a drug bust at Barangay Villamonte.
Elias Cabugatan, an alleged right-hand of a drug group leader, and his friend Edwin Vivero, a former traffic enforcer, and a member of another drug group in the city were also collared that led to a recovery of P300,000 worth of drugs in a drug raid at a village in Barangay Mandalagan.
In January, Carla Umadhay of Barangay 27, also yielded P400,000 worth of drugs in Villamonte village drug bust.
The BCPO was also able to neutralize Western Visayas drug lord Ramy Poja, who was killed in a police operation in Barangay Banago on May 24.
Gabana said Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, acting BCPO director, has reminded all police chiefs to intensify their campaign against illegal drugs and illegal gambling per the directive of the national headquarters.
One operation against illegal drugs and illegal gambling should be conducted by each police station per week, Gabana said.
Gabana said many newly-identified drug personalities were recently arrested because they would usually engage in illegal drugs in preparation for the activities in October like the MassKara Festival.
"It is the trend during the third quarter of the year," he added.
Meanwhile, Gabana said they received reports that high school students are allegedly involved in illegal drugs or being used in the illegal drug trade.
Gabana said the BCPO is reaching out to college and senior high students through the conduct of drug symposium.
High school students and elementary pupils from public and private schools are also undergoing the same symposium initiated by police stations in their respective areas to also inform them about the negative effects and consequences of the narcotics.
"We want them to be aware of its dangerous effects," Gabana said.