66 suspects held at Davao checkpoints

MANILA, Philippines — Sixty-six people have been arrested at various checkpoints in Davao City in the first quarter of this year.

Task Force Davao said 54 of those apprehended are drug suspects, who yielded shabu and marijuana valued at P2.5 million. Eight were arrested for illegal possession of firearms, one for cigarette smuggling and one each for violation of the Anti-Bomb Joke Law and Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act.

Task force commander Col. Darren Comia said the suspects were turned over to the Davao City police office.

Comia said a majority of those arrested were not from Davao City. ­

“It means that illegal drugs are coming from outside the city and are just being smuggled in,” he said.

Police had earlier clarified that the all-out campaign against illegal drugs in Davao City is not new.

Capt. Hazel Tuazon, city police spokesperson, however admitted that the police is doubling its efforts to quash illegal drugs in the city in response to the war on drugs statement by Mayor Sebastian Duterte.