MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested six wanted persons and seized nearly ₱10 million worth of illegal drugs in a series of 24-hour simultaneous operations across several regions, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify the government’s campaign against illegal drugs and criminality.

PNP Acting Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the coordinated operations were conducted in the regions of Central Visayas (PRO7), Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), CALABARZON (PRO4A), and MIMAROPA (PRO4B).

Among those arrested were suspects facing charges of murder, rape, statutory rape, and violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act, four of whom are included in their respective Regional Most Wanted lists. Authorities said most of the cases are non-bailable.

In separate buy-bust operations in Estancia, Iloilo (PRO6 – Western Visayas) and Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental (PRO10 – Northern Mindanao), police arrested two high-value targets and confiscated 270 grams of shabu worth around ₱1.83 million.

Meanwhile, in marijuana eradication operations jointly conducted with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur (PRO1 – Ilocos Region) and Tinglayan, Kalinga (PRO-Cordillera), authorities discovered and destroyed 40,800 fully grown marijuana plants valued at ₱8.16 million.

“Ang mga pag-arestong ito at pagkakasamsam ng ilegal na droga ay malinaw na patunay ng ating determinasyon na tugisin ang mga kriminal at buwagin ang mga sindikatong kriminal saan man sila nagtatago,” Nartatez said. “Walang makatatakas sa batas. Magpapatuloy tayo sa mga operasyon nang may tapang, disiplina, at malasakit upang maramdaman ng mamamayan ang tunay na proteksyon mula sa kanilang kapulisan.”

The PNP chief assured that the organization remains committed to upholding its advocacy of “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong mabilis, tapat, at nararamdaman,” anchored on integrity, compassion, and public service.