Malabang, Lanao del Sur — April 7, 2025 — In a decisive move against the illegal fuel trade, law enforcement authorities arrested a man involved in the unauthorized sale of petroleum products along the National Highway in Barangay Matling, Malabang, Lanao del Sur.
The operation, carried out around 10:30 AM, was part of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s (CIDG) flagship campaign “Oplan Ligas” — a nationwide initiative designed to curb violations linked to the illegal distribution of petroleum and its derivatives.
Spearheaded by operatives from the CIDG-Lanao del Sur Provincial Field Unit (CIDG-LDS PFU), the joint crackdown was supported by the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) Lanao del Sur, the Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14A–1403rd Company, and the Malabang Municipal Police Station.
Authorities identified the suspect as a 30-year-old resident of Barangay Matling, who was caught selling petroleum products without the necessary licenses or permits. A total of 624 liters of petroleum, valued at approximately Php 31,200, were confiscated during the operation.
The raid was conducted following a tip-off from a concerned citizen and backed by meticulous surveillance and casing operations. The operation had proper pre-operation clearance under Control Number: 04-04-045544 and was officially recorded in Blotter Entry Number 2025-04-40. For transparency, officers used two recording devices — a POCO X5 PRO 5G and an Intel S686LN — to document the arrest.
The apprehended individual was brought to the CIDG-LDS PFU office for documentation and further legal action.
PBGEN Romeo J. Macapaz, Regional Director of the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR), lauded the seamless coordination among all involved agencies. He stressed that the successful operation underscores PRO BAR’s firm resolve to enforce the law and safeguard the community against illegal activities.