KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — A 24-year-old man was arrested Thursday evening, March 19, 2026, in a drug buy-bust operation conducted by joint operatives of the Koronadal City Police Office’s City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 12 (PDEA-12).
The suspect, identified as Julius Bangiles Asumbra, a resident of Koronadal City, was apprehended at around 6:00 p.m. in Purok San Gabriel, Barangay Zone 3, after he allegedly sold illegal drugs to an undercover operative.
Authorities said the operation yielded two large transparent ziplock bags containing suspected dried marijuana leaves with stalks, seeds, and fruiting tops. A marked ₱500 bill with serial number CN960660, used in the transaction, was also recovered from the suspect’s possession.
According to the Koronadal City Police, Asumbra admitted that he had been engaged in the illegal drug trade for nearly a year. He further disclosed that a significant portion of his clientele consisted of students, raising alarm over the continued vulnerability of the youth to illegal substances.
The suspect is set to face charges for violation of Sections 5 (sale of illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
He is currently detained at the Koronadal City Police Office’s custodial facility pending proper legal disposition.
Authorities reiterated their commitment to intensifying anti-drug operations in the region, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in curbing the spread of illegal drugs, particularly among young people.