By Mike Crismundo
CAMP COL. RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City - Anti- illegal drug operations will be sustained without let up as the campaign against illegal drugs remains a top priority in the agenda of the Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13).
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This was disclosed by Chief Supt. Gilberto DC Cruz, regional director of PRO 13, on Thursday who also said that all regional, provincial and city mobile force commanders as well as city and provincial director and municipal chiefs of police are being ordered to redouble their effort in anti-illegal drug operations in an objective to hit the command target to make Caraga a “drug-free” region in Mindanao.
Early this year, from January 14 to 20, 13 suspected drug pushers were arrested during 13 separate operations conducted by the different police drug enforcement units (DEUs) in various places in Caraga region.
At dawn on Tuesday, a drug suspect listed as an alleged high-value target by the police in Region 8 was killed during the buy-bust operation at Barangay Mahay, Butuan City.
The buy-bust was launched at 1 a.m. on Tuesday.
“Sensing that he was transacting with a police officer, the suspect allegedly drew his cal. 38 revolver and shot the poseur buyer but the latter managed to neutralize the target,” the region’s police chief said.
Confiscated from the suspect during the buy-bust operation were eight sachets of shabu weighing 70 grams valued at P472,000.00, a caliber .38 revolver with four live ammunitions, and marked money, Chief Supt. Cruz said.
“Our counterparts in PRO 8 are also monitoring his alleged involvement in other crimes in Eastern Visayas,” Cruz said.
Cruz said they will regularly collaborate with government agencies, non-government organizations, media, and the private sector in their anti-drug advocacy.