THE war against illegal drugs by the Central Visayas police has so far netted P36 million worth of illegal drugs seized from July 1 to Aug. 26, police officials said.
Cebu City topped the list with P11 million worth of confiscated drugs.
The drug haul during the period includes 414.39 grams of shabu seized by units of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) from Aug. 18 to 25. The drugs are estimated to have a street value of over P4.8 million.
One gram of shabu has a street value of P11,800, police said.
The anti-drug operations also resulted in the seizure of 24 guns and caused the arrest of 65 people suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Supt. Rex Derilo, deputy chief of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID-7), said the intensified campaign followed a directive given by Chief Supt. Prudencio Bañas when he assumed command of the regional police in June.
Derilo said that from July 1 up to August 26 this year, different police offices in Central Visayas has conducted 337 anti-drug operations and filed 488 cases with the fiscal’s offices.
During the campaign, however, two policemen were also killed while three were wounded.
Ubay, Bohol chief of police George Caña was ambushed by the group of suspected drug dealer Owen Rosales, who in turn was killed in a follow-up operation.
Recently, CCPO operatives shot dead a suspected drug pusher in a raid in barangay Yati, Liloan town, northern Cebu.
Noel Codeniera was shot after he allegedly tried to resist a raiding team.
“I’d rather see a dead suspect that a dead policeman,” CPPO director Noel Gillamac said when sought for comment.
He said he welcomes an investigation if Codeniera’s relatives file a complaint.
Yesterday, Gillamac led his police chiefs in submitting to a drug test at the headquarters.
Out of 51 law enforcers, 45 showed up.
In barangay Tisay, police shot dead one Alvin Parba, whom they identified as a drug pusher, yesterday afternoon.
Parba was the subject of a police raid last year, but he eluded arrest.
Yesterday, the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) team responded to an armed person alarm.
The suspect turned out to be Parba.
Parba allegedly fired at the police.
Law enforcers returned fire, hitting him in the head and chest.