CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – A total of 295 individuals were arrested while some PHP800,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized in 24-hour simultaneous law enforcement operations in Central Luzon on Thursday.
Brig. General Matthew Baccay, regional director of the Police Regional Office-3 (PRO-3), on Friday said of those apprehended 142 have standing warrants of arrest for various offenses; 89 for illegal drugs; 60 for illegal gambling, two for motor theft, and two for illegal possession of firearms.
Baccay said around 119.81 grams of shabu with Dangerous Drugs Board value of PHP814,782 were confiscated.
"We continue to double our efforts to fight all forms of criminality in the region especially now that the holidays are here where lawless elements carry out their nefarious activities,” he said in a social media post.
To ensure peace during these holidays, some 3,000 policemen in Central Luzon have been deployed in the region’s transport terminals and leisure areas since December 16.
Baccay earlier said the policemen have been deployed to man assistance desks in transport terminals, commercial establishments, and places of worship.
Some 339 police personnel are manning major thoroughfares and secondary roads in the region to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.
Policemen are also inspecting firecracker stores and warehouses in Bulacan to prevent the manufacture, distribution, and sale of banned and dangerous firecracker products for the New Year’s Eve celebration.
Baccay reiterated the sale of illegal firecrackers outside firecracker zones is strictly prohibited and punishable under the law.
The banned firecrackers include Watusi, Piccolo, Poppop, Five-Star, Pla-Pla, Lolo Thunder, Giant Bawang, Giant Whistle Bomb, Atomic Bomb, Super Lolo, Atomic Triangle, Goodbye Bading, Large Size Judas Belt, Goodbye Philippines, Goodbye De Lima, Bin Laden, Hello Columbia, Goodbye Napoles, Mother Rockets, Coke-In-Can, Super Yolanda, Pillbox, Boga, Kwitos and Kabasi.
“Penalties would be imposed on manufacturers and sellers if they are caught selling prohibited items,” he warned. (PNA)
