CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City police intensified their nighttime presence after relaunching the Nightwatch Aggressive Patrol on Thursday evening, September 17, with 11 individuals arrested in operations involving alleged violations related to illegal drugs, firearms and illegal gambling.
The renewed nighttime operation forms part of the Cebu City Police Office’s (CCPO) broader push to increase police visibility and disrupt criminal activity, particularly during hours when street-level offenses may occur.
The arrests came as CCPO continues to strengthen its anti-criminality operations under the leadership of Police Colonel Ricky Sumalde, who assumed the role of CCPO officer-in-charge in June. The Cebu City Government said Sumalde’s leadership is part of the city’s continuing coordination with the Philippine National Police on peace and public-safety efforts.
Night patrols target drugs, guns and illegal gambling
The September 17 Nightwatch operation resulted in 11 arrests involving alleged violations connected to illegal drugs, firearms and illegal gambling, according to the report on the patrol’s relaunch.
The operation comes amid a sustained police campaign in Cebu City that includes intensified patrols, intelligence gathering and targeted enforcement.
Earlier this month, CCPO also reported a 24-hour period with zero recorded index crimes, while police operations during the same period resulted in the arrest of 18 suspected drug personalities, 10 illegal gamblers and five wanted persons. Police also reported the seizure of 43.54 grams of suspected shabu and a firearm.
Police visibility remains a major focus
The Nightwatch relaunch also follows CCPO’s intensified patrol and intelligence-monitoring efforts for the “ber” months.
SunStar reported earlier in September that police had increased visibility around commercial areas, transport terminals, public markets and other locations considered vulnerable to crime. CCPO officials also emphasized the importance of quick reporting, saying police aim for a response time of roughly three to five minutes after receiving an alert.
Police have urged residents and witnesses to report incidents immediately because delays can make it more difficult for responding officers to locate suspects.
Part of a wider Central Visayas crackdown
The intensified Cebu City patrols are happening alongside broader anti-criminality operations across Central Visayas.
The Philippine Information Agency reported in August that the Police Regional Office 7 recorded a 12.86% decline in eight focus crimes during the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. The eight focus crimes include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft and vehicle or motorcycle carnapping.
PRO-7 also reported thousands of anti-drug and illegal-gambling operations during the period, as well as operations against wanted persons and loose firearms.
Meanwhile, the Safer Cities Initiative has remained a major component of law-enforcement activity in Cebu. The Freeman reported that Cebu police units conducted extensive ordinance-enforcement operations earlier in the year, while CCPO has separately carried out operations targeting public-order violations and street-level criminal activity.
For Cebu City residents, the Nightwatch relaunch signals another increase in police presence after dark. The latest 11 arrests are now part of the city’s continuing effort to combine nighttime patrols, intelligence work and targeted enforcement to address criminal activity.
Authorities are expected to continue the heightened patrol strategy as police visibility remains a central part of Cebu City’s current peace-and-order campaign.
