TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – A total of 224 persons have been arrested for various criminal offenses in Surigao del Sur from January 1 to February 29, a police official said over the weekend.
The arrests were conducted during the 169 police operations within the same period involving illegal drugs, illegal gambling, illegal fishing, illegal logging, fugitives, and communist rebels, according to the data released by the Surigao del Sur Provincial Police Office (SDSPPO).
SDSPPO director, Col. James Goforth told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Saturday said that police units in two cities and 17 municipalities in the province have been instructed to heighten their drive against criminalities through the conduct of operations, checkpoints, and police visibility activities.
Goforth said coordination with local government units (LGUs), concerned agencies and citizens were also sought to effectively curb criminal activities in Surigao del Sur.
“Our citizens play an important role in our drive against criminalities. Past accomplishments of our police units were supported by vital information provided by concerned citizens,” he added.
According to SDSPPO data, 14 anti-drug operations conducted with PDEA within the January-February period resulted in the arrest of 17 persons and the seizure of 13.4233 grams of shabu and four grams of marijuana, yielding a total value of PHP158,615.
In the same period, a total of 19 operations were conducted with DENR against illegal logging that apprehended 22 persons and the confiscation of 6,023 board feet of illegally-gathered assorted logs with a total value of PHP177,951.
A total of 39 persons were also arrested in 10 operations conducted against illegal gambling, resulting in the confiscation of PHP31,692 cash used as bet money.
Seventeen anti-illegal fishing operations, meanwhile, were conducted in 11 towns and one city resulted in the arrest of 31 persons and the confiscation of PHP36,077 worth of marine products, and PHP281,200 worth fishing equipment and accessories.
Moreover, SDSPPO's operations against loose firearms resulted in the arrest of 13 persons and the seizure of 15 small firearms.
Goforth said the intensified manhunt operations against fugitives of the law have resulted in the arrested at least 11 "most wanted persons" and 91 other wanted persons.
“Tracking of wanted persons that led to their arrests were due to the information provided by our citizens. These pieces of information are vital to the success of our operations,” he said.
In the same period, SDSPPO also arrested a total of nine New People's Army (NPA) rebels, in coordination with the Army.
The most significant operation, Goforth said, was the arrest of Renan Cantos, considered as a top NPA leader in the province.
Cantos, 30, was arrested on February 15 in Barangay La Purisima, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur.
On February 20, police and Army personnel also arrested Juanito Tejero Calipas, an alleged rebel militiaman under the NPA's Guerilla Front 19, in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga town. (PNA)
