PNP’s rigorous anti-crime ops point to more high-value targets

PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde. INQUIRER.net / Gabriel Pabico Lalu

The number of high-value targets (HVT) of the government’s war on illegal drugs has increased to 9,972 according to new information from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Oplan Double Barrel, slightly higher than the previous figure of 9,866.

According to PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, nearly 5,000 HVTs have surrendered to authorities while almost a third of which were charged.

“Up until August 15, a total of 4,959 HVT personalities have surrendered and are now under monitoring and evaluation, while 2,825 others or 28.32 percent were arrested and charge,” Albayalde told reporters during the press briefing in Camp Crame on Monday.

“Only 258 HVT personalities died in police operations or 2.52 percent out of the 9,972 target personalities,” he added.

Albayalde also said that they are still searching for at least 600 HVTs while more than 300 persons have died outside of legitimate police operations.

“There are 654 who can no longer be located in their last known addresses and areas of operations, while 322 have become victims of homicide cases under investigation,” he noted.

One of the 654 missing HVTs is controversial businessman and alleged drug trader Peter Lim, who has a pending arrest order for drug cases.  Albayalde assured the public that measures were already in place to apprehend Lim for the law to prevail.

“Meron na tayong tracker team dyan, meron ng copy of the warrant ang ating CIDG,” he said.

Continuous anti-crime operations

Albayalde attributed the increase in the number of HVT personalities to intensified operations and constant reassessment of the anti-crime program.

“Hindi naman,” Albayalde said when he was asked if he was dismayed with the rise in the number of HVTs. “Actually ito ‘yong resulta ng pagre-revalidate natin.  Continuous kasi ito, hindi tayo pwedeng mag-stick lang sa isang listahan.”

He also said that with PNP’s non-stop operations, there is no need to issue advisories and warn the public on the possible upward trend of crime incidence for the upcoming Christmas season.

“Actually, sa PNP, wala nang ber-months ngayon. From the very beginning, ’yong intensity ng aming operations, gano’n din ’yong intensity, dere-deretso ’yan,” Albayalde said.

“So hopefully, masira ‘yong trend na pagdating ng mga ber-months tumataas ’yong  ating crime volume.  For the past two years hindi na natin nakita ’yong trend na ’yan,” he said.