The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confiscated more than P460 million worth of illegal drugs in the entire month of January this year.
In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. said the illegal drugs were seized in more than 4,600 operations that also resulted in the arrest of 6,248 suspected pushers and users.
The latest of the confiscation was in Northern Samar where P69 million worth of shabu was seized following the arrest of a 40-year tricycle motorist.
During the month-long operations in January, four drug suspects were killed after allegedly engaging the policemen in gun battle.
Azurin, however, said the incidents are isolated as he emphasized that the PNP is taking measures to ensure the safety of all parties involved in the anti-illegal drug campaign.
"The PNP is committed to bringing justice to the Filipino people and ensuring their safety, but we also understand the importance of protecting the rights of all individuals involved in the operations. We are continuously working to balance these responsibilities," said Azurin.
“The achievements highlight the effectiveness of the intelligence-driven approach to reducing supply, which places a strong emphasis on nonviolent means of making arrests while ensuring the safety of teams involved in violent encounters with armed suspects through proper equipment and training. This is the new face of our anti-illegal drugs campaign," he added.