PNP drug haul hit over P6.2b from Jan. to June

By Charles Dantes

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that seized illegal drugs from January 1 to June 9, 2023, reached more than P6.2 billion.

The PNP also reported a decrease of almost 10% in crime situations across the country.

During this period, the PNP said it has conducted 19,464 antidrug operations across the country which resulted in the arrest of 25,641 drug offenders.

The PNP said it remains stern in its campaign against narcotics together with various government agencies.

PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda said that the national police is in full support of the Buhay Ingatan Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The BIDA program led by DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos Jr. was created to reduce the demand for illegal drugs in society.

The PNP also apprehended 31,956 offenders included in their wanted list.

Meanwhile, the national police campaign against loose firearms recorded 3,904 arrested individuals and 12,373 firearms recovered.

The PNP stated that these numbers showed the effectiveness and efficiency of anti-crime strategies and programs laid out by the national police.

In Brief

in an order issued on June 15.

The order granted the motions filed by De Lima’s co-accused – former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Franklin Jesus B. Bucayu, and Joenel T. Sanchez and Ronnie P. Dayan, former security aide and driver, respectively, of the former senator.

In their motions, the accused sought the inhibition of the judge for being the brother of lawyer Emmanuel S. Buenaventura, who was reportedly the former counsel of late former Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Justice that conducted the 2016 hearings on De Lima’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs subject of the case. Emmanuel was pointed as the one who acted as counsel of Dayan who issued sworn statements on the alleged involvement of De Lima in the illegal drugs trade.

However, Dayan recanted his testimonies and alleged that he was coerced by Umali into making the false statements against De Lima.

Three cases were filed against De Lima and her co-accused. The first case was dismissed on a demurrer to evidence and the dismissal was tantamount to an acquittal. She was acquitted in the second case.

In the third and last case, De Lima and her co-accused were indicted for allegedly receiving P70 million in illegal drugs earnings collected by imprisoned narcotics traders of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

DANGEROUS TOYS? Plastic lato-lato toys are for sale in a stall in Divisoria Market. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public to avoid purchasing the glow in the dark lato-lato as “potential hazards may come from ingredients that are not allowed to be part of toy and childcare article product.” Norman Cruz

EXPECT a major revamp in the Philippine National Police (PNP) with the retirement of two senior officials of the police organization.

Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) chief Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz bids farewell to his distinguished career in the PNP on June 14, while Maj. Gen. Ronaldo Olay, Director for Logistics, was honored for

Admin pledges

‘safe’ environment for press

THE Marcos administration is committed to providing a “safe and secure” environment to the Philippine press, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said on Friday.

PTFoMS executive director Paul Gutierrez said the decision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to support the task force’s continued operations under his watch is a testament to the current administration’s dedication to upholding and protecting the media workers’ rights.

“The decision of President Marcos Jr. to continue with the PTFoMS is the clearest demonstration of his administration’s commitment to the strengthening of our democracy and in sustaining an environment that is generally safe and secure for all members of the press,” Gutierrez said.

“The corollary aim is to ensure that all transgressors of media rights are made accountable before the law,” he added.

NAIA officer hailed for returning wallet with cash

THE Office for Transportation Security (OTS) has commended one of its screening officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for good conduct after the officer returned a wallet containing foreign money equivalent to P29,000.

OTS administrator Undersecretary Ma.O Aplasca said Security Screening Officer (SSO) Ivan Godwin Loraña returned the wallet containing cards and cash amounting to 500 US dollars, and 61,000 Korean won owned by a passenger identified as one certain Changkyu Park, who was bound for Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Park, according to OTS, inadvertently left the wallet inside the tray after the usual security screening procedures in NAIA Terminal 1 last Thursday. Joel E.

Zurbano

DENR welcomes PH, US pact on climate change

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday welcomed the strengthening of bilateral relations between the Philippines and the US on various areas of mutual interest, including cooperation on climate change, environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and water security.

DENR Secretary Antonia Loyzaga was invited by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to be part of the Philippine delegation during the President’s official visit to Washington, D.C. from April 30 to May 4. The meeting between President Marcos and US President Joe Biden at the White House yielded several new bilateral commitments and reaffirmed the continued partnership between the two countries.

Rio N. Araja