Cebu City police have completed a massive weeklong safety sweep, rescuing 573 minors from the streets and arresting 16 people on drug-related charges.
The operations, held from Jan. 19 to 25, 2026, were part of a city-wide effort to lower crime and keep neighborhoods safe at night.
The majority of the police activity focused on "Oplan Bulabog" and "Oplan Bakal Sita," which are nightly patrols designed to find people breaking local laws.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Col. George Ylanan reported that 573 minors were taken into custody. These youths were found loitering in the streets late at night or in the early morning hours, which violates the city’s curfew ordinance.
Rather than being treated as criminals, the minors were "rescued" and handed over to barangay Gender and Development (GAD) offices and social workers. These experts will provide support and intervention programs for the children and their families.
While patrolling for curfew violators, officers also targeted illegal drugs. The week’s work resulted in:
16 arrests for suspected drug activities.
13.45 grams of suspected shabu seized, worth an estimated P91,460.
1,666 inspections of local businesses to make sure they were following city rules.
Additionally, the Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team stayed busy by issuing nine tickets for public smoking and drinking.
Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, the regional director of Police Regional Office-7, helped coordinate the sweep. Police leaders say these nightly operations are essential because they prevent crimes before they happen—especially crimes involving intoxicated individuals or unsupervised minors.
Col. Ylanan promised that these crackdowns will continue. By staying visible on the streets, the police aim to maintain peace and order throughout Cebu City.