DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur — A job order employee of the Digos City Government was arrested after authorities confiscated approximately 19.9 grams of suspected shabu worth ₱135,320 during a joint anti-illegal drug operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Digos City on Friday morning.
The suspect, identified only by the aliases “Dong” and “Don,” 42 years old, a live-in partner, and a Job Order employee assigned to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Digos City Government, was tagged by authorities as a High-Value Target (HVT) in the government’s intensified anti-drug campaign.
The buy-bust operation was carried out at around 10:12 a.m. on July 31 in Purok Tugas, Bonifacio 7th Street, Barangay Zone 3, Digos City. The operation was led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Davao del Sur Provincial Office, headed by IA V Clodito V. Cañada, PhD, in coordination with the Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (DSPPO-PDEU) and the Digos City Police Station’s City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU).
According to PDEA, the suspect allegedly sold one sachet of suspected shabu worth ₱7,000 to an undercover operative, serving as the buy-bust item that triggered his arrest.
Following the arrest, authorities recovered three medium-sized and two small transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substances believed to be shabu from the suspect’s possession.
The confiscated illegal drugs weighed approximately 19.9 grams with an estimated Standard Drug Price of ₱135,320, based on current government valuation.
The suspect, a resident of Lim Del Rosario Street, Barangay Zone 3, Digos City, is now under the custody of PDEA Regional Office XI pending the filing of criminal charges.
Authorities said the suspect will face charges for violating Sections 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PDEA reiterated its commitment to intensifying anti-drug operations across the region, emphasizing that government employees are not exempt from law enforcement efforts if found involved in illegal drug activities. Officials also urged the public to continue supporting the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign by reporting suspected drug-related activities in their communities.
The case remains under further investigation to determine the possible source of the confiscated illegal drugs and identify other individuals who may be involved in the suspect’s alleged drug activities.