COTABATO CITY — Authorities seized approximately ₱136,000 worth of suspected shabu in a joint anti-illegal drug operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in coordination with the Philippine National Police, on March 24, 2026. However, the primary target managed to escape and remains at large.
The buy-bust operation was carried out at Purok Waling-Waling in Mother Barangay Bagua, involving operatives from the PDEA-BARMM Regional Special Enforcement Team (RSET), working closely with Police Station 4 of the Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO), the City Mobile Force Company, and the PNP Maritime Group.
Authorities identified the suspect only by his alias “Thats,” a 38-year-old male with a known history of illegal drug involvement. He reportedly sensed the presence of law enforcement officers during the operation and fled toward an unknown direction before he could be apprehended.
Despite the suspect’s escape, operatives successfully confiscated ten heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu. The seized illegal drugs weighed approximately 20 grams and carried a standard drug value of ₱136,000.
Also recovered at the scene were a mobile phone, marked buy-bust money, and assorted drug paraphernalia believed to be linked to the suspect’s illegal activities.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect had previously been arrested for drug-related offenses and had availed of a plea bargaining agreement in 2023, raising concerns among authorities over repeat involvement in the narcotics trade.
Law enforcement agencies have launched follow-up operations to track down and arrest the suspect, who continues to evade authorities.
Criminal charges for violations of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs) and Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) under Republic Act No. 9165 are currently being prepared against him.
Officials reiterated their commitment to intensifying anti-drug operations across the region, emphasizing that individuals who continue to engage in illegal drug activities despite previous interventions will be held fully accountable under the law.