The Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO-3) reported a slight decline in crime in the region in 2025, alongside increased enforcement against illegal drugs, criminal gangs, wanted persons and loose firearms.
In a media release on Sunday, the PRO-3 said that in 2025, it recorded 10,725 operational accomplishments in the anti-illegal drugs campaign that led to the arrest of 788 high-value individuals and 9,937 street-level suspects.
Police seized more than 164 kilograms of shabu, 48 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves, 13,745 marijuana plants, and over 2.5 kilograms of kush marijuana, with an estimated value of about PHP1.13 billion.
Operations against organized crime resulted in the arrest of 47 gang members, while eight others surrendered, according to police records.
Manhunt operations led to the arrest of 19 regional most wanted persons, three provincial most wanted, seven municipal most wanted, and 19 other wanted suspects for various offenses.
In firearms-related operations, police confiscated 1,470 firearms, arrested 1,390 violators, and recorded 2,589 firearms that were either surrendered or placed under police custody.
Crime statistics showed total crimes dropped to 35,706 in 2025 from 36,444 in 2024, while index or focus crimes (homicide, murder, robbery, rape, physical injury, theft, carnapping and motorcycle theft) fell to 3,228 from 3,713.
Crime solution efficiency for focus crimes rose to 70.42 percent from 67.01 percent in 2024.
P7-M ecstasy seized at Clark
Meanwhile, authorities seized PHP7 million worth of ecstasy drugs hidden inside international parcels at the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City, Pampanga on Friday.
The operation was carried out by the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Clark, in coordination with the Clark Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group and the Bureau of Customs, according to a news release on Saturday.
During the inspection around 8 a.m. of two parcels from Innsbruck, Austria and supposed to be delivered to Davao City, authorities discovered 4,124 ecstasy tablets, valued at PHP7,040,125. (PNA)
