113 fall in anti-criminality drive in Quezon

LUCENA CITY – Police arrested at least 113 suspected criminals in the massive two-day anti-criminality campaign called “Oplan Salikop” in Quezon province, police said Wednesday.

Senior Supt. Osmundo de Guzman, Quezon police director, said authorities in various municipalities arrested 24 suspected drug pushers and users.

He said 10 persons were also arrested for illegal possession of firearms; 18 for illegal gambling; five for illegal fishing; and one for illegal logging during the implementation of Oplan Salikop on Aug. 5 and 6.

Also arrested were 55 wanted persons in different parts of the province. A total of 49 grams of shabu (crystal meth) and 73 grams of marijuana were confiscated.

Most of the suspects were arrested based on the information from concerned citizens, police said.

De Guzman said the pre-emptive operation through simultaneous implementation of search and arrest warrants was meant to address criminality, insurgency, terrorism and other threats to peace and order and security in the province.

Oplan Salikop aims to reduce crimes involving illegal firearms, car theft, robbery/hold-up, and crimes perpetrated by motorcycle-riding criminals.

The arrested suspects were detained in different municipal jails.