DAVAO CITY (October 22) – What began as a series of routine operations turned into one of the region’s biggest law enforcement successes in months: more than ₱28 million worth of illegal drugs seized, 597 suspects arrested — and 162 of them among the country’s most wanted.
For Brig. Gen. Joseph R. Arguelles, the new regional director of the Police Regional Office XI (PRO XI), the results reflect not just numbers but the persistence of police teams across Davao Region who continue to brave daily risks to keep communities safe.
“Our success is built on teamwork, discipline, and an untiring drive to serve and protect our communities,” Arguelles said, lauding his personnel for their “exceptional operational and administrative performance.”
Between August 26 and October 13, PRO XI conducted 1,483 anti-crime operations, more than a third of which targeted illegal drugs. These 533 anti-drug missions led to the arrest of 597 drug personalities, including 102 high-value targets.
The Dangerous Drugs Board valued the total haul at ₱28.25 million, mostly from 3.4 kilograms of shabu worth ₱23.4 million and 38.3 kilograms of dried marijuana worth ₱4.6 million. One operation alone netted over ₱1.5 million in narcotics.
A broader campaign against crime
The crackdown didn’t stop there. Police also arrested 425 fugitives, among them 162 most wanted persons and 112 top-level targets.
They carried out 193 operations against illegal gambling, 151 against loose firearms, and six anti-smuggling operations that led to the confiscation of goods worth more than ₱2.2 million.
Behind these headline numbers, police officials said, are long nights of surveillance, community coordination, and intelligence work.
Cleaning house from within
Arguelles also underscored that their campaign for integrity is as aggressive as their fight against crime. PRO XI filed 69 administrative cases and resolved 60, part of its ongoing “internal cleansing” to weed out erring personnel.
The regional director said PRO XI’s current momentum is a reminder that law enforcement is not just about arrests and seizures — it’s about restoring public trust and building safer communities one operation at a time.
