SURALLAH, South Cotabato — More than ₱1 million worth of suspected shabu was seized while a drug suspect was arrested after a routine inspection of a rented vehicle at the Surallah Municipal Police Station on July 27, 2026, authorities reported.
The operation was initiated after the owner of a local car rental business sought police assistance when the vehicle’s Global Positioning System (GPS) showed that it had strayed from the route declared by the renter.
According to the police, after the vehicle was returned, the owner carried out a standard inspection and discovered three large heat-sealed plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance hidden inside the vehicle’s glove compartment. Suspecting the substance to be illegal drugs, the owner immediately reported the incident to the Surallah Municipal Police Station.
Responding police officers verified the contents of the sachets, which were believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, prompting the immediate arrest of the vehicle’s renter, identified only by the alias “Joe,” 43 years old, and a resident of Barangay Edwards, T’boli, South Cotabato.
Authorities said the confiscated suspected shabu weighed approximately 150.18 grams with an estimated Standard Drug Price (SDP) of ₱1,021,224.00.
The suspect is currently under the custody of the Surallah Municipal Police Station and is facing charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Appropriate criminal charges are being prepared for filing before the prosecution.
Police emphasized that the operation highlights the importance of cooperation between private citizens and law enforcement agencies in combating the illegal drug trade. The prompt decision of the vehicle owner to report the suspicious discovery prevented the illegal drugs from being further transported or distributed.
Acting Regional Director PBGEN Alan B. Manibog lauded the vigilance and civic responsibility demonstrated by the vehicle owner, as well as the swift response of the police officers who handled the incident.
“Ang tagumpay na ito ay nagpapakita ng kahalagahan ng pagiging mapagmatyag ng ating mga mamamayan. Sa tulong ng publiko, mas magiging epektibo ang ating kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga at sa pagpapanatili ng ligtas na pamayanan,” Manibog said.
The successful seizure forms part of the continuing anti-illegal drug campaign in Region 12, where authorities continue to encourage the public to report suspicious activities and cooperate with law enforcement to curb the proliferation of dangerous drugs in communities.
Police also reminded business owners, particularly those engaged in vehicle rental services, to remain vigilant and immediately coordinate with authorities whenever they encounter suspicious circumstances involving their clients or rented properties, stressing that public participation remains a vital component in the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.