SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Philippines – Three individuals, including a watchlisted suspect, a laborer, and a fisherman, were arrested in separate buy-bust operations conducted by police and anti-drug units in Surigao City, Sison, and Socorro on January 6, 2026, as authorities intensified their campaign against illegal drugs in the province.
In Surigao City, operatives of the Surigao del Norte Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), in coordination with the Surigao City Police Station and PDEA Regional Office XIII, arrested a 25-year-old man identified as alias “Bosing”, a resident of Barangay Canlanipa, during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Bacud, Barangay Luna.
Police said the suspect was on the drug watchlist.
Seized from him were one sachet of suspected shabu weighing approximately 0.16 gram worth ₱1,088, and two more sachets weighing an estimated 4 grams valued at ₱27,000, bringing the total confiscated drugs to 4.16 grams worth ₱28,288. Authorities also recovered ₱1,000 in marked money used in the operation.
Meanwhile, in Sison town, personnel of the Sison Municipal Police Station arrested alias “Nono,” 37, a laborer and resident of Barangay Serna, Surigao City, during a buy-bust operation along the National Highway in Barangay Tinogpahan at around 12:50 a.m.
Recovered from the suspect were one sachet of suspected shabu weighing 0.5 gram worth ₱3,400, and four more sachets weighing an estimated 2 grams valued at ₱13,600. The total confiscated drugs weighed about 2.5 grams with an estimated value of ₱17,000. Police also seized ₱500 in marked money and a small envelope.
In Socorro town, a fisherman identified as alias “Erang,” 52, married and a resident of Barangay Honrado, was arrested by the Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit (MDEU) of the Socorro Municipal Police Station led by PCPT. Franklin Parejo during a buy-bust operation at around 11:30 p.m.
Authorities recovered one heat-sealed sachet of suspected shabu weighing 0.3 gram worth ₱2,040 purchased by the poseur buyer, and 21 additional sachets of suspected shabu weighing an estimated 10.7 grams valued at ₱72,760.
Also confiscated from the suspect were ₱1,000 in marked money, ₱5,105 in cash, a glass pipe, two plastic hoses, a lighter, vape bottle, small scissors, an Itel keypad cellphone, seven sachets of cigarettes, and an empty plastic sachet.
All three suspects are now in police custody, while the seized drugs and non-drug evidence have been turned over for proper documentation and laboratory examination. Criminal charges are being prepared against them for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Police authorities reiterated their commitment to sustain aggressive anti-drug operations and called on the public to remain vigilant and report any illegal drug activities in their communities.