The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is beefing up its anti-drug efforts ahead of the highlight of the 2025 Dinagyang Festival from Jan. 24 to 26.
ICPO director Police Colonel Kim Legada said they are expecting attempts to sneak in drug supplies because of the festival.
For the past three days, they have recovered almost half a kg. of suspected shabu from 13 operations.
“We have to keep up with them. We don’t want illegal drugs to proliferate during the festivities. I have talked to our station commanders and City Drug Enforcement Unit operatives that we will be having double effort this January because of our festivities,” said Legada.
The latest operation was on Thursday, Jan. 8, when the City Drug Enforcement Unit seized more or less 200 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of PHP1.36 million and arrested two high-value individuals in an operation in Barangay Bakhaw in Mandurriao District.
“The area of Bakhaw is very notorious and has become the center of our operations,” he said, adding that they would continue to monitor the village.
Legada added that most of the suspected drug personalities are new players, although some previous players who have availed of plea bargaining are again engaged in the illegal drug trade.
Mayor Jerry Treñas commended the anti-drug operations, which he said was a “testament to the relentless efforts of our police force in combating illegal drugs.”
“This underscores the importance of our collective vigilance in protecting our city from the devastating effects of illegal drugs. As we approach a major celebration in Iloilo City, I strongly urge the ICPO to intensify its campaign and strictly monitor and prevent the entry of illegal drugs into our city,” he said in a statement.Perla Lena/PNA
