ILOILO CITY: The October anti-drug operations here led to the seizure of 4,813 grams of shabu valued at PHP32.7 million, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) reported to the local government on Tuesday. The confiscation was a result of 56 buy-busts, with 50 street-level individuals and 32 high-value individuals (HVIs) arrested.

According to Philippines News Agency, the biggest haul was accomplished by the ICPO Station 1, which confiscated 668 grams of illegal drugs with an estimated street value of PHP4.5 million. Nine suspects were arrested, consisting of five HVIs and four street-level individuals.

ICPO Director Col. Kim Legada stated that the successful operations resulted in a significant decrease in the crime index from 30 to 18. ICPO recorded zero incidents of murder, car theft, and robbery with homicide compared to the same month last year. Other crime statistics also showed improvement, with theft decreasing from 17 to nine, homicide from five to one, and physical injuries from five to two.

Iloilo
City Mayor Jerry Treñas highlighted the ICPO’s achievements in crime prevention, ordinance enforcement, and anti-drug operations, emphasizing the combined efforts in maintaining the city’s safety. The mayor noted that since 2019, his administration has allocated at least PHP477 million to provide resources for the ICPO, including patrol vehicles, firearms, and facilities.

Mayor Treñas further added that these investments have significantly strengthened the ICPO’s operational capacity, contributing to a lower crime rate and creating a safer environment for the residents and visitors of Iloilo City.