THE operatives of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) seized nearly P400 million worth of illegal drugs from Jan. 1 until Dec. 31, 2018.
The CCPO conducted 2,564 anti-illegal drugs operations that resulted in the arrest of 3,953 personalities, 2,833 of whom were users while 1,120 were pushers.
Eleven persons died during police operations--five users and six pushers.
Operatives seized 39.558.52 grams of “shabu” worth P389.3 million, according to the data presented by CCPO Director Royina Garma.
Different units under CCPO also caught 2,113 persons for illegal gambling violations and confiscated P157,016 bet money.
In the last quarter of 2018, CCPO started confiscating shabu in kilos worth millions from pushers believed to be new players.
Garma promised to intensify their campaign against illegal drugs this year, although she can’t promise that there will be fewer killings during raids.
She said in Cebuano that she can’t assure that there will be fewer killings. The police have warned the criminals not to fight back and it would now be up to the suspects if they want to kill or be killed.
She said there were several drug busts and raids that only resulted in the arrest of the suspects.
Garma said they will also intensify their campaign against loose firearms as the May midterm elections draw near.
The CCPO has a list of 4,000 gun owners and Garma has ordered his personnel to identify those who are living in Cebu City.
The police will visit the houses of civilians and elected officials whose gun licenses have expired.
Garma said they will urge them to surrender their firearms to a police station while the renewal of papers is pending. She said they will also go after gun holders who sold their firearms without licenses.
Meanwhile, Cebu City Councilor Renato Osmeña Jr. initiated the creation of the Barangay Anti-Drug Officers (Bado) to help the police monitor the villages of any illegal drug activities.
Osmeña said this is in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs.
He said among the barangays that already organized their own Bado are Cogon Pardo, Mambaling, Basak-San Nicolas, Duljo-Fatima, Pasil among others.
Bado is different from the Barangay Abti-Drug Abuse Council (Badac) since the former is composed of civilian volunteers. The Badac is chaired by the barangay captain.
Osmeña said Bado members, who will be acting as confidential agents of the police, will undergo an orientation so they will understand their role in the community. (FROM AYB OF SUPERBALITA CEBU / KAL / PAC)