Iloilo city: Western Visayas recorded a 24.49 percent drop in focus crimes following intensified intelligence-driven police operations launched in May, the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) reported on Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, PRO-6 spokesperson Maj. Lailyn Sencil announced that the regional police are committed to sustaining their intensified anti-criminality campaign through intelligence-based operations and stronger collaboration with communities and partner agencies. 'Through the PRO-6 Way, PRO-6 will continue to strengthen the anti-criminality campaign through intelligence-driven operations, stronger coordination with partner agencies, wider police visibility, and active participation in the community,' Sencil stated during a press conference.

From May 22 to July 19, PRO-6 conducted 257 anti-drug operations, seizing 17.54 kilograms of shabu and 524.46 grams of marijuana with a combined estimated value of nearly PHP120 million. These operations led to the arrest of 322 drug suspects, including 115 high-value targets and 207 street-level individuals.

During the same period, police arrested 133 most wanted persons, including all 10 of the region's top most wanted individuals, and 327 other wanted persons. The campaign against loose firearms resulted in the arrest of 63 individuals and the recovery of 954 firearms through 1,065 operations. Of the recovered firearms, 64 were confiscated during operations, 844 were voluntarily surrendered, and 46 were deposited for safekeeping.

Police also conducted 382 anti-illegal fishing operations, arresting 625 individuals and seizing marine products valued at PHP45.97 million. Sencil noted that the intensified operations coincided with a decline in focus crimes across the region. From May 22 to July 19, PRO-6 recorded 225 focus crime incidents, down from 298 during the same period last year, marking a 24.49 percent reduction. The cases primarily involved theft, robbery, and rape.