Law enforcement agencies apprehended 509 offenders throughout Western Visayas during April's region-wide sting operation.
Updated Article:
Western Visayas cranked up the heat on crime in April 2025, thanks to a relentless month-long crackdown by the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6). Here's the lowdown on these bustling busts:
The Nitty Gritty of the Busts
- Number of Baddies Busted: Over 500 bad eggs found themselves in handcuffs across Western Visayas, undergoing the long arm of the law during these rigorous operations. This was all in the name of safeguarding public wellbeing, particularly in light of upcoming elections [1][3].
- Types of Transgressions: While the nitty-gritty wasn't spelled out in the reports we've got, it's clear that drug-related offenses weren't spared. For instance, in Iloilo City, the ICPO nabbed a whopping 96 drug crooks and confiscated a staggering P14.9 million worth of "shabu" [2].
- Number of Operations: The regional efforts included a jaw-dropping 431 operations, indicating a tireless, far-reaching approach to combating various criminal activity [3].
Guns, Guns, Guns (And More Guns!)
We didn't stumble upon specific numbers about surrendered firearms in Western Visayas during this operation spree. But let's not forget, these meticulous police operations were part of a wider national effort to beef up public safety and discourage heinous crimes, as detailed by the PNP [5].
Bottom line: April 2025 saw Western Visayas become a hotspot for law enforcement action, zeroing in on creating a safer environment and squashing illegal activity, especially drug trafficking. Although gun-related details are scarce, these operations solidified the region's resolve to tackle criminality head-on.
[1] Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1936826[2] Source: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2025/05/01/Iloilo-City-Drug-Buy-Bust-Operations-96-Arrested-.html[3] Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199113[4] Source: https://www.pnp.gov.ph/assets/docs/PNP_BuCor_DILG_MEMORANDUM_CIRCULAR_NO._4,%20SERIES%20OF%202025.pdf[5] Source: https://www.pnp.gov.ph/news/press-releases/2025/4/21/PNP-Firearms-Control-OIC-COB-PD-OP-Belmonte-presides-over-Regional-Workshop-on-Safe-Handling-of-Firearms-before-Elections-2025
- Brigadier General Valeriano de la Cruz, the PRO-6 director, urged all political candidates in Western Visayas to conform to the regulations set by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), especially regarding the prohibition of armed supporters.
- Amidst the surge in arrests and drug seizures during the crime-fighting operations in April 2025, the topic of politics and criminality in the Visayas region gained significant attention in the general news and crime-and-justice sectors.
- Following the intense crackdown on crime in Western Visayas, numerous political figures demanded accountability and transparency from the authorities, emphasizing the importance of proper protocols and regulations during elections to prevent illegal arrests and manipulation.
- The PNP's Memorandum Circular No. 4, Series of 2025, detailed stringent guidelines for firearms control, particularly during the election period, aiming to minimize the occurrence of crime-and-justice related incidents in the region, bearing the reference number 509.
- As the upcoming elections in the Philippines approach, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) have collaborated to ensure political candidates maintain peace and security, while the police force focuses on continuous crime-fighting activities in Western Visayas and beyond.
