GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Police authorities in General Santos City intensified their campaign against illegal drugs and unlicensed firearms after three separate operations from August 7 to 10 resulted in the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of suspected shabu, revolvers, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
The operations, carried out by different units of the General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO) in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other police units, highlighted the continuing enforcement of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
On August 7, personnel of Police Station 5, together with the GSCPO SWAT and CIT Gensan-RIU 12, implemented Search Warrant No. 26-103 at the residence of alias “Maki,” a jobless resident of Purok Stella Maris, Barangay Tambler. Authorities recovered two caliber .38 revolvers, seven live rounds of ammunition of different calibers, two sachets containing suspected shabu weighing approximately 0.49 gram and valued at around ₱3,332, one sachet containing traces of suspected shabu, and a glass tooter. The seized items were marked, inventoried, and photographed in the presence of required witnesses before being submitted for forensic and ballistic examination.
The following day, August 8, Police Station 9 personnel, in coordination with PDEA Regional Office XII, arrested 31-year-old alias “Sho” during the implementation of search warrants in Barangay Mabuhay. Police seized five sachets of suspected shabu weighing approximately 2.10 grams, with an estimated street value of ₱14,280, along with an unlicensed .38 revolver pistol without ammunition. The recovered evidence was turned over to the Regional Forensic Unit 12 for laboratory examination, while the suspect remained in police custody as authorities prepared charges for filing through inquest proceedings.
The series of operations continued on August 10, when the City Police Drug Enforcement Unit (CPDEU) of the GSCPO, in coordination with the City Intelligence Unit and Police Station 2, conducted a buy-bust operation in Barangay Labangal. The operation led to the arrest of alias “Boboy” after a police poseur-buyer purchased approximately 0.2 gram of suspected shabu from him using a marked ₱1,000 bill. A subsequent search yielded a black belt bag containing five large and two small sachets of suspected shabu, with a combined estimated weight of 25.12 grams and an estimated street value of ₱170,816, as well as the marked money, identification documents, lighters, scissors, and a smartphone.
Across the three operations, authorities seized a combined 27.71 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of approximately ₱188,428, along with three .38 revolvers, seven rounds of ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. Police said the seized drugs would undergo laboratory examination, while the firearms and ammunition would be subjected to ballistic examination. The arrested suspects are expected to face appropriate charges under the country’s anti-drug and firearms laws.
The operations underscore the continuing efforts of Police Regional Office 12 and the General Santos City Police Office to disrupt the illegal drug trade and prevent the proliferation of unlicensed firearms in the city. Authorities have also reiterated that all seized evidence will undergo proper documentation and forensic examination as part of the legal process.