2021 RECAP: 541 DRUG PERSONALITIES, BUSTED IN PROCOR ANTI-ILLEGAL DRUGS OPS

The persistent efforts of the Police Regional Cordillera (PROCOR) to eradicate illegal drugs in the region have resulted in the arrest of 541 drug personalities and the confiscation of Php ₱1,578,000,511.20 worth of illegal drugs contrabands that include uprooted and burned marijuana plants.

Based on the records of the Regional Operations Management Division, from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, 621 anti-illegal drugs operations were conducted by PROCOR operatives including buy-bust operations, raids, marijuana eradication, implementation of search warrants, service of warrants of arrest, checkpoints and interdiction operations.

These operations have resulted in the arrest of 541 drug personalities wherein Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) has recorded the most number of arrests with 242 arrests followed by Benguet Police Provincial Office (PPO) with 126 arrests, Kalinga PPO with 85 arrests, Mountain Province PPO with 42 arrests, Abra PPO with 39, Ifugao with 5 arrests and Apayao PPO with 2 arrests.

On marijuana eradication operations, a total of 5,117,240 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants (FGMP) and 4,571,331.16 grams of Dried Marijuana plants were all uprooted and burned in Calendar Year (C.Y.) 2021.

The continuous marijuana eradication operations were highlighted with the execution of OPLAN: HERODOTUS wherein the Regional Director himself, PBGEN RONALD OLIVER LEE, supervised the simultaneous marijuana eradication operations in Benguet, Kalinga, and Mountain Province which resulted in the destruction of 72 marijuana plantations sites.

“Ang utos ko, maliliit pa lang ang mga marijuana eh sirain na para hindi na lalaki pa at mawala na rin ang pagkakataon na maibenta pa sa baba”, PBGEN LEE said in a statement.

In coordination with the Regional Explosives and Canine Unit (RECU), PBGEN LEE has also instructed the random deployment of Narcotic Detection Dogs (NDD) to deter the transport of illegal drugs in the region.

Also, as the result of the continuous community engagement, 25 Persons Who Used Drugs (PWUDs) has voluntarily surrendered to the authority in 2021 while a total of 277 PWUDs has completed their Community-Based Recovery and Wellness Program (RWP). (PROCOR-PIO)