ILOILO, Philippines – It has been tagged as an “underperforming” regional police office by no less than the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

But on the day of his visit to the supposed underperformer, Western Visayas police nabbed two wanted drug personalities with alleged ties to the so-called Prevendido Gang, a criminal group that reportedly distributes drugs in Iloilo province.

On Friday, August 26, police from the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group nabbed Abelardo Prevendido and Reynante Santiago in a buy-bust operation in Bakhaw village in Iloilo City.

According to a report from the Western Visayas police regional office, Prevendido and Santiago were caught selling P3,000 worth of shabu to an undercover cop.

Abelardo, 61, is supposedly part of the Iloilo City sub-group of the gang. The man’s relative was seen sobbing as police officials presented Abelardo and Santiago to the media right after a press conference with Dela Rosa.

The PNP chief had earlier named the Western Visayas police office as among the “underperforming” regions in the country, after he gathered all regional directors for a Command Conference in Camp Crame last week.

On July 1, the new administration under President Rodrigo Duterte formally launched an “invigorated” campaign against illegal drugs. The crackdown on the illegal trade has resulted in the deaths of at least 700 drug suspects, the surrender of more than 600,000 drug users and pushers, and the arrest of more than 11,000 drug personalities.

Cops have also reported at least 9 deaths from their own ranks in the conduct of police operations. At least 3 soldiers have also died in the campaign.

Western Visayas police on Friday also presented to Dela Rosa illegally-owned firearms they’ve seized in the recent months. Dela Rosa was in Iloilo City on Friday to grace the police regional office’s 115 police service anniversary.

Duterte had earlier tagged Iloilo as the most “shabulized” province in the country, as he read a list of government officials with alleged ties to the illegal drugs trade. Iloilo Mayor Jed Mabilog is part of the list.

Mabilog had earlier denied Duterte’s accusation and went to Camp Crame earlier in the month in hopes of clearing his name. No charges have been filed against the mayor. – Rappler.com