TACLOBAN CITY– Anti-criminality efforts of the Philippine National Police here in the region are gaining ground as it reported of a 269 decrease in crime incidents in the year 2022 as compared to that of the year 2021.
“These accomplishments are noteworthy that we did our best in serving the public while maintaining the peace and order in our community. With these, I commend all those in the field units who exerted their best efforts in performing their duties and responsibilities,” said B/Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, the police regional director, said in a statement.
“The region achieved 80.80 % in the crime solution efficiency and 97.27 % in the crime clearance efficiency,” he added.
On the campaign against criminality, 827 personalities listed as Top 10 most wanted persons were arrested while 4,534 other wanted persons from the provincial, city, and municipal levels were also apprehended, having a total of 5,361 arrested most/wanted persons for the entire year.
Police units in the region nabbed 650 individuals during the conduct of anti-illegal drugs operations with a total of 4,868.04 grams of confiscated shabu and marijuana, having an estimated total value of P22,802,752.88.
A total of 148 personalities also voluntarily surrendered to police authorities during the conduct of ‘Oplan Tokhang’.
In the campaign against illegal fishing, the police regional command recorded an arrest of 2,479 personalities involved in illegal fishing with confiscated items, including assorted fish and fishing paraphernalia amounting to more than P136,189.
Marbil reported that of the arrested, 114 cases were referred to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; 111 were filed in court, and 779 personalities were fined.
On illegal logging, 490 individuals were apprehended with P6.36 million worth of confiscated lumber/forest products.
Of the 490 arrested, 102 cases were referred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and 146 were filed in court.
While on illegal gambling, 3,663 personalities were arrested with a total of P754, 337 bet money confiscated.
The police regional command also recorded an arrest of 214 personalities for illegal possession of firearms recovering 246 assorted firearms and another 2,694 firearms surrendered in the process.
In the campaign against insurgency, a total of 155 members of the communist terrorist group voluntarily surrendered to the authorities, while 47 were arrested and two were captured.
A total of 12 suspected rebels died during police operations with assorted firearms and explosives surrendered, recovered, and confiscated.
“Indeed, the men and women of Police Regional Office 8 worked together in achieving such accomplishment,” Marbil said.
(RONALD O. REYES)
