More than P172 million worth of illegal drugs were seized while almost 900 wanted persons were arrested in the past 100 days of aggressive anti-crime operations in Western Visayas.

Police Brig. Gen. Radulf T. Tuaño, director of Police Regional Office 6, said the wanted persons arrested did not include the 521 suspected pushers and users who were collared in various parts of the region in the first 95 days of his stint as the region’s top cop.

“Our first 95 days are only a starting point. What matters is not simply the number of operations or arrests, but what these actions mean for our people—the fisherfolk who depend on our seas, the families who want their communities to be safe, the children who need our protection, and every citizen who expects the police to be present and responsive,” said Tuaño.

From May 22 to Aug. 25, Tuaño said a total of 424 illegal drugs operations were carried out while 621 operations were conducted against illegal fishing that resulted in 1,033 arrests.

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office accounted for 165 arrests and the recovery of drugs valued at approximately ₱71.92 million while Iloilo City Police Office arrested 222 people and recovered around ₱42.14 million worth of illegal drugs.

The Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 6 arrested 26 and seized p46.14 million worth of illegal drugs.

Other units also sustained their anti-drug efforts are Aklan Police Provincial Office (PPO) with 25 arrests and approximately ₱2.45 million in recovered illegal drugs; Antique PPO with 16 arrests and ₱5.33 million illegal drugs seized; Capiz PPO with 51 arrests and illegal drugs worth ₱4.10 million; and Guimaras PPO with 16 arrests, and ₱278,980.00 worth of illegal drugs.

Tuaño said the operations accounted for approximately P82.97 million worth of fish and other marine products, fishing equipment, motorboats, and related paraphernalia.

Of the 862 arrested wanted persons for the same period, he said 178 of them were included in the Most Wanted Persons list.

On the other hand, a total of 1,561 firearms were confiscated while 103 persons were arrested for violations involving loose firearms.

A total of 355 persons were arrested in the campaign against illegal logging while police units accounted for over P2.5 million worth of lumber and ₱533,550.00 worth of charcoal that were confiscated or recovered.

Tuaño called on the public to remain active partners in maintaining peace and order by complying with existing laws and local ordinances, ensuring proper firearm documentation, observing responsible and lawful fishing practices, protecting the environment, and reporting illegal or potentially harmful activities to the nearest police station or appropriate government agency.

“This is not the work of the police alone. We need our communities with us. When we work together, follow the law, and report concerns, we can prevent problems before they become bigger. That is the kind of policing we want to continue building across Western Visayas—responsive, trusted, and transformative,” Tuaño said.