CEBU: The Bagong Pilipinas anti-drug campaign in Central Visayas has resulted in the confiscation of illegal drugs with an estimated street value of PHP2.5 billion since the start of the Marcos administration, the region's top police official said Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, director of the Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas), thanked the people of Central Visayas for the cooperation they have extended to the police force in the campaign against illegal drugs. Records showed that police operatives in the region conducted 14,033 sting operations from June 30, 2022 to July 31 this year. 'Of course, we give credit to the indispensable support of the community. We could not achieve that high an operational accomplishment without the support of the community,' Aberin told participants during a Bagong Pilipinas forum. According to him, the problem of illegal drugs in Central Visayas is manageable, 'as can be gleaned from the PHP2.5 billion worth of drugs seized.' 'We cannot say that we are that successful in the fight natin. However, we can see that the PHP2.5 billion worth of seized illegal drugs is a great reduction, and at the same time, the arrest of 17,059 drug personalities and clearing 71 percent of barangays means something,' he added. From June 30, 2022 to July 31, 2024, PRO-7 confiscated 360.6 kg. of shabu and 270.9 kg. of marijuana. So far, the region has destroyed a total of PHP1.2 billion worth of illegal drugs. Aberin said Cebu remains the focus of anti-narcotics stings as it has become a transshipment point of illegal drugs from Luzon. Source: Philippines News Agency