KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — A high-value target (HVT) drug personality was arrested in a coordinated anti-illegal drugs operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office 12 and local police on Monday afternoon, April 13.
The suspect, identified only by his alias “Berting,” 42, single, and working as a construction laborer, was apprehended at around 5:40 p.m. in Purok Pag-asa, Barangay Sto. Niño. He is a resident of Purok Rizal, Barangay Concepcion in the same city.
Authorities said the operation was jointly carried out by operatives of the PDEA Regional Office 12 South Cotabato Provincial Office, the Regional Special Enforcement Team (RSET), and personnel from the Koronadal City Police Office.
“Berting” was tagged as a regional target-listed drug personality and had a prior arrest for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. His inclusion in the high-value target list made him a priority in the government’s intensified anti-drug campaign.
Seized from the suspect were approximately 18.5 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of ₱125,800. The confiscated illegal drugs included one sachet used in the buy-bust transaction and nine additional sachets found in his possession.
Operatives also recovered the marked buy-bust money amounting to ₱1,000, an Android mobile phone believed to have been used in coordinating drug transactions, and a blue motorcycle suspected to have facilitated the illegal activity.
The suspect is now under the custody of PDEA and is set to face charges for violations of Sections 5 (sale of illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs), Article II of Republic Act No. 9165.
Authorities reiterated their commitment to sustaining aggressive operations against illegal drugs, particularly targeting high-value individuals, as part of ongoing efforts to curb the proliferation of narcotics in the region.