The province of Bohol topped in illegal drugs haul in Central Visayas, in terms of value, according to a report of the Police Regional Office-Region 7 during the recent meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council-7, presided over by its chairman, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III.  The total amount of illegal drugs confiscated in the region reached P37,906,109 as a result of the 883 anti-drug operations and 1,143 suspects face 1,229 cases. PRO-7 has filed a total of 172 cases in court against 94 suspects.  Of the total amount of seized illegal drugs, Bohol, among the provinces in Region 7, raked in P6,862,451.70 worth of the contraband as a result of 111 operations from January to May this year. 

Cebu province came in next with a total worth of P2,912,187 in illegal drugs from 278 operations, 382 suspects arrested and 273 cases filed.  Negros Oriental province confiscated illegal drugs amounting to P2,595,883.85 from 111 operations and 146 cases filed against 147 suspects.  Siquijor province conducted four operations to confiscate a total value of P2,006 in illegal drugs. Three suspects were arrested and are now facing six cases, said the report.  Among the cities in Region 7, Lapu-Lapu City topped them all with a confiscation of illegal drugs, amounting to P8,039,091.60 from 71 operations, with 75 suspects arrested and 78 cases filed. Cebu City netted P6,554,474 worth of illegal drugs from 217 operations with 288 suspects arrested and 206 cases filed.

Mandaue City, for its part, seized a total value of P584,627 in illegal drugs from 74 operations with 75 persons arrested and 78 cases filed. No data for Tagbilaran City and other cities in the region were however available.  The Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group reported that it seized in the region a total of P10,355,388 worth of illegal drugs as a result of 17 operations. It said 33 suspects were arrested and 48 cases were filed in court.  PRO-7, headed by Chief Superintendent Prudencio Bañas, meanwhile reported that it posted a 5.2 percent decrease of crime volume, to a total of 25,864 from January to May this year from 24,531 in the same period last year. The report further showed 29.2 percent in crime clearance efficiency and 23.7 percent in crime solution efficiency.