PNP neutralizes 17,680 drug suspects in first 6 months of 2016

PNP personnel involved in the conduct of Anti-Illegal Drugs Operations in Pampanga which resulted to the confiscation of 248 liters of liquid methamphetamine hydrochloride, 443.11 grams shabu, 26.44 kilos chloroephedrine, controlled precursors and essential chemicals and laboratory equipment amounting to 1.372 billion pesos. (Photo: PNP’s website)

MANILA – Using the so-called “Whole-of-Government Approach” in its anti-illegal drugs operations, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has so far neutralized 17,680 narcotics suspects from Jan. 1 to June 15, this year.

According to the PNP-Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, these individuals were arrested through interdiction operations, service of arrest warrants and search warrants, checkpoints and other forms of police operations.

Of the 17,680 individuals arrested, 4,874 were from Police Regional Office (PRO) Region 4-A which had the largest number of arrested persons, followed by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) with 3,760, and PRO 3 with 3,004.

Meanwhile, out of the 68 killed suspects from Jan. 1 to June 15, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 in Central Luzon recorded the most number with 25 dead from tactical engagements or encounters.

PRO 4-A in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) recorded 14 slain suspects in its anti-drug operations.

In line with the government policy of zero tolerance to drug abuse, the PNP conducted random drug testing from May 10 to June 8 at the National Headquarters and Police Regional Offices to determine who among PNP personnel are using illegal drugs.

Of the partial figure of 1,075 PNP personnel who underwent drug testing, 137 came from the PNP NHQ in Camp Crame; 40 from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD); 16 from PRO 2; 34 from PRO 3; 10 from PRO 4-A; 15 from PRO 5; 54 from PRO 6; 103 from PRO 7; 332 from PRO 10; 177 from PRO 11; 150 from PRO 13; and 157 from PRO-Cordillera Administrative Region.

Under civil service regulations, government employees face dismissal from the government service if they are found to be abusing or taking illegal drugs.