17,700 Western Visayas drug pushers, users have surrendered

AKLAN, Philippines – The Police Regional Office (PRO-6) said 17,748 self-confessed drug dealers and users voluntarily surrendered in the first 100 days of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) intensified anti-drug campaign.

The figure was divided between 1,121 drug pushers and 16,627 drug users who turned themselves in to local authorities from July 1 to October 8.

The tally showed Aklan had 1,836 drug surrenderers. Meanwhile, Antique had 1,050; Guimaras, 632; Capiz, 5,283; Iloilo province, 6,489; and Iloilo City with 2,458. under Oplan Tokhang. 

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, spokesperson for PRO-6, said 984 drug suspects were also arrested in the region during the 14-week Oplan High-Value Target-Low Value Target (HVT-LVT) police operations.

Since July, Aklan’s anti-drug campaign yielded 107 suspects; Antique, 84; Capiz, 180; Guimaras, 23; Iloilo province, 233; and Iloilo City with 381.

During the period, 15 drug suspects were also killed, while 3 were injured in police operations.

According to Gorero, PRO-6 acting regional director Chief Superintendent Jose Gentiles wants to turn Western Visayas from a “shabulized” region to a drug-free community.

There will be no let up in the police anti-drug operations, he added.

Gorero also urged the community and the private sector to help in the rehabilitation of drug surrenderers. – Rappler.com