PNP Sustains Full-Scale Holy Week Operations, Seizes ₱121.6 Million in Illegal Drugs and Contraband

MANILA – During the observance of Holy Week, the Philippine National Police (PNP) maintained round-the-clock law enforcement operations across the country, combining public safety efforts for the religious holiday with an aggressive drive against various forms of criminal activity.

In its latest operational report covering the period from 8:00 a.m. on April 3 to 8:00 a.m. on April 4, 2026, the PNP disclosed a series of major accomplishments nationwide. Foremost among these was the arrest of 16 wanted individuals linked to grave offenses, including murder, rape, robbery, and violations of illegal drug laws.

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Police authorities said the apprehended fugitives included several high-ranking names on law enforcement watchlists. Specifically, those captured comprised four individuals listed as Top 2 most wanted persons, one ranked Top 3, four ranked Top 4, and one ranked Top 7, in addition to six other wanted personalities being tracked at the regional level. According to the PNP, some of the arrested suspects are facing non-bailable charges and are now in police custody pending the appropriate legal proceedings.

Simultaneously, anti-narcotics units carried out a number of successful operations against the illegal drug trade. In separate buy-bust operations, authorities arrested four suspects, three of whom were identified as high-value individuals. Seized during these operations were illegal drugs estimated to be worth ₱31.6 million in total. Among the recoveries were more than 3.28 kilograms of shabu in Quezon, as well as over 1.2 kilograms confiscated in Cavite and Caloocan.

The PNP also reported a major anti-marijuana campaign in Benguet, where operatives launched a large-scale eradication drive against illegal cannabis cultivation. That operation resulted in the destruction of 5,920 mature marijuana plants, with an estimated street value of ₱1.18 million, underscoring the continuing effort of authorities to dismantle narcotics production at its source.

Apart from anti-crime and anti-drug operations, the PNP also intensified its campaign against smuggling and the distribution of counterfeit goods. These efforts led to the recovery of contraband valued at more than ₱90 million. Among the most notable seizures was approximately ₱50 million worth of smuggled cigarettes recovered in Maguindanao del Norte. In Misamis Oriental, two separate operations yielded confiscations amounting to ₱19.8 million and ₱12.8 million worth of cigarettes, respectively. Meanwhile, in Pasay City, authorities seized around ₱7.5 million worth of counterfeit luxury items.

Police also confirmed the arrest of one foreign national, identified as a 34-year-old Chinese suspect, in connection with these operations. However, authorities said that other individuals believed to be involved remain at large and are still being pursued.

PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said the recent string of accomplishments demonstrates the persistence and intensity of police efforts on the ground. He stressed that every arrest made and every illegal activity disrupted represents meaningful progress toward making communities safer and more secure.

The PNP chief further emphasized that the organization would continue pushing forward under its Focused Agenda on Enhanced Managing Police Operations, aligning these efforts with the broader directive of the national government. He said that under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the police force is steadily strengthening its operational capabilities to ensure that the public genuinely feels the visibility, responsiveness, and presence of the police in everyday life.

Authorities assured the public that police operations would remain relentless, intelligence-driven, and nationwide in scope, with the goal of addressing criminality in all its forms, from wanted fugitives and illegal drugs to smuggling and counterfeit trade.

These latest accomplishments, the PNP said, reaffirm the organization’s commitment to producing concrete results while safeguarding the public, in line with its guiding principle of a Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat at Nararamdaman.

Ranking of the places in the Philippines mentioned in the report, based on the highest reported value of seized/recovered illegal goods or contraband.

Rank	Place	Reported Value	What Was Recovered / Seized
1	Maguindanao del Norte	₱50 million	Smuggled cigarettes
2	Misamis Oriental	₱32.6 million	Smuggled cigarettes from two operations (₱19.8M + ₱12.8M)
3	Pasay City	₱7.5 million	Counterfeit luxury goods
4	Benguet	₱1.18 million	5,920 fully grown marijuana plants destroyed

These places were mentioned in the anti-drug operations, but the report did not give a separate peso value per place.

Place	Details Mentioned	Why Not Ranked Individually
Quezon	More than 3.28 kg of shabu recovered	No exact peso value assigned only to Quezon
Cavite	Part of over 1.2 kg of shabu seized	Combined amount only; no separate value
Caloocan	Part of over 1.2 kg of shabu seized	Combined amount only; no separate value

Category	Details	Figures / Accomplishments
Period Covered	Nationwide PNP operations during Holy Week	8:00 AM, April 3 to 8:00 AM, April 4, 2026
General Law Enforcement Operations	PNP sustained full-scale law enforcement to ensure public safety and fight all forms of criminality	Nationwide police operations continued
Wanted Persons Arrested	Arrest of individuals linked to grave offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and violations of illegal drug laws	16 wanted persons arrested
Classification of Arrested Wanted Persons	Ranking of wanted persons captured	4 Top 2, 1 Top 3, 4 Top 4, 1 Top 7, and 6 regional-listed wanted persons
Custody Status	Several arrested persons are facing serious charges	Some are facing non-bailable offenses and are now under police custody
Murder	Included among the grave offenses of the arrested wanted persons	Specific number not stated
Rape	Included among the grave offenses of the arrested wanted persons	Specific number not stated
Robbery	Included among the grave offenses of the arrested wanted persons	Specific number not stated
Violations of Illegal Drug Laws	Included among the grave offenses of the arrested wanted persons	Specific number not stated
Anti-Illegal Drug Operations	Separate buy-bust operations conducted	4 suspects arrested, including 3 high-value individuals
Illegal Drugs Seized	Authorities confiscated drugs from various operations	Estimated value: ₱31.6 million
Shabu Recovered – Quezon	Large volume of illegal drugs recovered	More than 3.28 kilograms of shabu
Shabu Recovered – Cavite and Caloocan	Additional seizures in separate areas	Over 1.2 kilograms
Marijuana Eradication – Benguet	Large-scale marijuana eradication operation	5,920 marijuana plants destroyed worth ₱1.18 million
Anti-Smuggling Operations	Recovery of contraband items	Over ₱90 million worth recovered
Smuggled Cigarettes – Maguindanao del Norte	Contraband seizure	About ₱50 million worth
Smuggled Cigarettes – Misamis Oriental	Separate anti-smuggling operations	₱19.8 million and ₱12.8 million worth
Counterfeit Luxury Goods – Pasay City	Seized counterfeit products	₱7.5 million worth
Arrest in Smuggling Case	Foreign national apprehended	One 34-year-old Chinese suspect arrested
Other Suspects	Status of other involved personalities	Still at large
Statement of the PNP Chief	Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said the results reflect sustained and focused police operations	Emphasized that each arrest and each suppressed illegal activity contributes to safer communities
PNP Commitment	Continued intelligence-driven and relentless operations	In line with the PNP Focused Agenda on Enhanced Managing Police Operations
Guiding Principle	Official PNP public service principle	“Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat at Nararamdaman.”

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