A High Value Individual (HVI) was arrested while nearly half a million pesos worth of suspected shabu was confiscated during a successful anti-illegal drug operation conducted by authorities in Polomolok, South Cotabato on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
The joint buy-bust operation was led by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 12 (RPDEU 12) under the supervision of PLTCOL Dave B. Abarra, chief of RPDEU 12, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 12, Polomolok Municipal Police Station, SCPPO PDEG12-SOU12, RIU 12, RID 12, and SCPDEU.
Authorities identified the arrested suspect only by the alias “Mando,” 27 years old, and a resident of Barangay Labangal, General Santos City. Police tagged the suspect as a High Value Individual involved in the illegal drug trade.
According to the report, the operation was carried out after an undercover police operative successfully purchased one small sachet of suspected shabu weighing around 0.5 gram from the suspect, which served as the object of sale.
Following the arrest, operatives conducted a body search and recovered additional illegal drug paraphernalia and suspected narcotics from the suspect’s possession.
Among the items confiscated were one black belt bag, one black coin purse, one Android cellular phone, and the marked ₱1,000 buy-bust money used during the operation.
Authorities also recovered one large sachet containing approximately 50 grams of suspected shabu and four medium-sized sachets weighing around five grams each.
Police said the total volume of confiscated suspected shabu reached 70.5 grams, with an estimated National Standard Drug Price (NSDP) of ₱479,400.
All seized drug evidence has been turned over to the investigator-on-case and will undergo laboratory examination at the Regional Forensic Unit in General Santos City.
The suspect is currently detained at the Polomolok Municipal Police Station pending proper documentation and legal procedures.
Authorities said charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are now being prepared for filing in court against the suspect.
Law enforcement agencies reiterated their commitment to intensifying anti-drug operations across Region 12 as part of the government’s continuing campaign against illegal narcotics and criminality.