Glan, Sarangani — A routine police checkpoint in Glan town escalated into a high-speed chase and vehicular collision on the morning of December 20, 2025, leading to the seizure of hundreds of reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes and the arrest of one suspect.
At around 11:30 a.m., the Glan Municipal Police Station (MPS) received a report from the 1st Sarangani Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) that a Mitsubishi Mirage (Titanium Gray Metallic, plate number MBD 2901) had deliberately evaded a checkpoint at Purok Melchomo, Barangay Baliton, Glan, Sarangani Province.
Police immediately launched a joint hot pursuit operation involving personnel from the Glan MPS, Sarangani 1st PMFC, Sarangani Provincial Police Office–Provincial Intelligence Unit (SPPO-PIU), Regional Intelligence Division 12–STTA, and Sarangani MARPSTA.
The chase ended at around 12:03 p.m. when the fleeing vehicle collided with a Toyota Fortuner along the National Highway in Purok Tulan, Barangay Taluya. The Fortuner was driven by a 65-year-old local resident, who was reportedly caught in the incident as an innocent motorist.
Following the collision, the occupants of the Mitsubishi Mirage abandoned the vehicle and attempted to escape on foot. One suspect, identified as alias “Alvin,” 27 years old and married, was successfully apprehended by pursuing authorities. His companion, alias “Ramil,” a resident of General Santos City, managed to flee and remains at large as of this writing.
A subsequent search of the abandoned vehicle, conducted in the presence of a barangay official, yielded 279 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes of the GAJAH BARU brand, with an estimated market value of ₱219,573.00. The seized items were properly inventoried and marked at the scene.
The confiscated cigarettes were brought to the Glan Municipal Police Station for documentation before being turned over to the Bureau of Customs in General Santos City for proper disposition.
Authorities are now preparing appropriate charges against the arrested suspect for violations of Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, Republic Act No. 10643 or the Graphic Health Warnings Law, and Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code. The suspect will face inquest proceedings, while a manhunt is ongoing for his fleeing cohort.
Police officials reiterated their commitment to intensify checkpoint operations and inter-agency coordination to curb smuggling activities and protect the public from illegal goods entering local markets.