BUTUAN CITY – The Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 (Caraga) vowed not to let its guard down against illegal drugs in the region even as its forces are in the midst of the government's drive to contain the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
From March 17 to April 29, the various police units of PRO-13 coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to launch operations that led to the arrest of 27 drug personalities, confiscating a total of 33.71 grams of shabu and 2.5 grams of marijuana worth PHP397,916.
“The implementation of the community quarantine in the region does not stop our fight against illegal drugs,” said PRO-13 director Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr. in a statement Friday (May 1).
Esquivel said that among the drug personalities arrested during the period was Wilson P. Jaime, 43, a resident of Barangay Baan, Butuan City, who was arrested during the buy-bust operation on Wednesday here.
Jaime yielded some PHP2,360 worth of shabu in an operation conducted by the Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) and PDEA in Barangay Ampayon, Esquivel said.
Another high-value target nabbed during the period was Dante A. Luna, 39, and a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur.
Esquivel said Luna yielded some PHP59,000 worth of shabu during the April 22 police and PDEA operation in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
The PRO-13 chief vowed the police will "sustain the momentum in the midst of their efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 as drug personalities may take advantage of the health crisis." (PNA)
