ONE TIME, BIG TIME. Brig. Gen. Alfred Corpus (left), director of the Police Regional Office (PRO-12), inspects the assorted firearms and other illegal items seized during a series of operations in parts of Region 12 or Soccsksargen on Monday (Nov. 11, 2019). A suspect in the killing of a town councilor in Maitum, Sarangani province was killed while 35 wanted persons and drug personalities were arrested during the raids. (Photo courtesy of PRO-12)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A suspect in the killing of a town councilor in Sarangani province was killed while 35 wanted persons and alleged drug personalities were arrested in a series of “one time, big time” operations in parts of Region 12 (Soccsksargen) on Monday.
Brig. Gen. Alfred Corpus, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO-12), said the raids resulted in the recovery of at least 41 assorted firearms, 372 rounds of ammunition and 74 packs of illegal drugs, mostly suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of P500,000.
Corpus said a total of 78 search warrants were simultaneously served during the operations, which were launched in coordination with the Philippine Army and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 12.
In a press conference at the Sarangani Police Provincial Office in Alabel town Monday noon, Corpus identified the slain suspect as Billy Abubakar Druz, who was tagged as a suspect in the murder of Maitum town councilor Edwin Ramos on May 13, 2007.
“He was the number three most wanted person in the provincial level,” Corpus said.
He said eight other wanted persons were arrested by joint elements from the PRO-12 and Maitum municipal police station during the implementation of 21 search and arrest warrants.
The arrests resulted in the confiscation of 18 assorted firearms, 129 live ammunition, two hand grenades and five sachets of suspected shabu.
A summary report released on Monday night by the PRO-12 public information office said nine persons were arrested during the operations in this city that yielded six firearms, 39 live ammunition and 11 items of “assorted illegal drugs”.
In South Cotabato, six suspects were arrested and six assorted firearms, 60 live ammunition and 16 packs of illegal drugs were recovered.
The Sultan Kudarat police reported the arrest of six suspects and the confiscation of five firearms, 86 live ammunition and 17 packs of various illegal drugs.
Six suspects were also arrested and seven assorted firearms, 58 live ammunition, three hand grenades and 25 items of “assorted illegal drugs” were seized by the North Cotabato police.
Corpus said the “one time, big time” operations, which started Monday dawn, was the “jumpstart” of the implementation of a more intensified and continuous campaign against illegal drugs and criminal activities in the region.
He lauded various units of the PRO-12 and counterparts from the PDEA-12 and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the “astounding accomplishment.”
“We are hoping that this accomplishment will send a strong signal to the criminal elements. We will continue to conduct major operations like this so we can keep enjoying the prevailing peace and order situation in the region,” he said.
Since assuming as PRO-12 chief last September, Corpus said police units in the region already conducted a total of 374 anti-drug operations that resulted in the arrest of 226 personalities and killing of eight armed suspects in encounters.
He added that 23 persons voluntarily surrendered to local police units in line with the implementation of Oplan Tokhang. (PNA)
