LAGUNA — The Laguna Provincial Police Office (LPPO) reported a significant enforcement effort in May, resulting in the arrest of 789 suspects for various crimes, including drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and firearms violations.
According to Philippines News Agency, the acting LPPO director, the police conducted numerous operations targeting drug traffickers in an effort to clean the streets of illegal narcotics. These operations led to the arrest of 267 individuals on drug-related charges. "Lawmen managed to arrest 267 drug suspects while conducting a barrage of anti-narcotics operations last month," Unos disclosed. Additionally, officers confiscated approximately 503.56 grams of shabu, valued at approximately PHP 3.43 million.
Unos detailed the breakdown of those arrested in drug operations, noting that 17 were classified as high-value individuals (HVI) and 250 as street-level individuals (SLI), according to the Philippine National Police's classification system. He attributed the success of these operations to the collaboration between the police force and the local community.
Beyond narcotics enforcement, the Laguna police also targeted illegal gambling, leading to the arrest of 79 alleged 'bookies' involved in unauthorized numbers games and 248 others engaged in various illegal gambling activities. The crackdown extended to apprehending fugitives, with 43 individuals from the province's 'most wanted' list and another 135 with outstanding arrest warrants being captured.
In a related effort to curb violence and enhance public safety, the LPPO's campaign against loose firearms resulted in 17 arrests and the confiscation of 47 firearms. "The successful operations of the Laguna PNP against criminality are the result of cooperation between the police and the people," Unos reiterated, underscoring the community's role in these achievements.