GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Police authorities intensified their relentless campaign against illegal drugs after three separate operations conducted within two days led to the arrest of three suspected drug personalities and the confiscation of nearly ₱210,000 worth of suspected shabu in General Santos City.
The operations, carried out by different units of the General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO) in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, resulted in the arrest of a street-level individual (SLI), a high-value individual (HVI), and another suspected drug personality through intelligence-driven operations and the implementation of search warrants.
The first operation was conducted at around 10:47 p.m. on August 5 at a waiting shed in Darimco Silway, Barangay Dadiangas West. Operatives of Police Station 1 successfully carried out a buy-bust operation that resulted in the arrest of alias “Tom,” 47, a tricycle driver and resident of the said barangay.
Recovered from the suspect were approximately 10.83 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of ₱73,644, along with the marked buy-bust money and other non-drug evidence.
In another operation on the same day, personnel of Police Station 9, GSCPO, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office XII (PDEA RO XII), implemented a search warrant in Barangay Mabuhay, leading to the arrest of a 40-year-old suspect known by the alias “David.”
Authorities seized three sachets of suspected shabu weighing approximately 11.6 grams, with an estimated standard drug price of ₱78,880. The suspect was immediately brought to Police Station 9 for documentation, while the confiscated drug evidence was turned over to the Regional Forensic Unit XII for qualitative and quantitative laboratory examination.
Charges for violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared for filing through inquest proceedings before the Office of the City Prosecutor in General Santos City.
Meanwhile, at around 3:49 a.m. on August 6, authorities arrested a High-Value Individual (HVI) during the implementation of another search warrant in Purok Maunlad, Barangay Tambler.
Recovered during the operation were approximately 8.49 grams of suspected shabu valued at ₱57,732, along with various drug paraphernalia believed to have been used in the commission of illegal drug activities. The inventory of the seized evidence was conducted in the presence of representatives from the media and the local government to ensure compliance with legal procedures.
In total, the three anti-drug operations resulted in the confiscation of approximately 30.92 grams of suspected shabu with a combined estimated standard drug price of ₱210,256, further strengthening the government’s intensified campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs in the city.
Police Regional Office 12 Regional Director PBGEN Alan B. Manibog commended the operating units for the successful operations and reaffirmed the Philippine National Police’s unwavering commitment to eliminating illegal drugs through sustained and intelligence-driven law enforcement efforts.
“Hindi tayo titigil sa ating kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga. Ang bawat matagumpay na operasyon ay nagpapakita ng ating matibay na paninindigan na ilayo ang ating mga komunidad sa banta ng ipinagbabawal na gamot. Sa tulong ng ating mga kababayan, lalo pa nating paiigtingin ang pagpapatupad ng batas laban sa mga nagtutulak ng ilegal na droga,” PBGEN Manibog said.
He likewise emphasized that the latest accomplishments demonstrate the continued aggressiveness of PRO-12 in running intelligence-driven operations against illegal drug networks.
“Ang matagumpay na operasyong ito ay patunay na nananatiling agresibo ang PRO 12 sa pagsugpo sa ilegal na droga. Patuloy nating paiigtingin ang ating intelligence-driven operations upang mapanagot ang mga sangkot sa ipinagbabawal na gamot at maprotektahan ang ating mga komunidad laban sa banta ng ilegal na droga,” he added.
PBGEN Manibog also appealed to the public to continue supporting the Philippine National Police by providing timely and reliable information that could lead to the arrest of individuals involved in the illegal drug trade.
“Patuloy nating paiigtingin ang ating kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga. Ang bawat matagumpay na operasyon ay hakbang tungo sa mas ligtas na pamayanan at patunay na hindi tayo titigil sa pagpapatupad ng batas upang maprotektahan ang ating mga kababayan. Nananawagan din tayo sa publiko na ipagpatuloy ang pakikipagtulungan sa PNP sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng impormasyon laban sa mga sangkot sa ilegal na droga,” the regional director said.