Four individuals, including two brothers and their companion, were arrested in separate police operations on Sunday, January 25, 2026, resulting in the confiscation of two sachets of suspected shabu, a firearm, and ammunition in the City of Koronadal.
In the first operation, personnel of the Koronadal City Police Station (KCPS) conducted a drug buy-bust operation at around 8:15 p.m. in Purok Poticar, Barangay General Paulino Santos. The operation led to the arrest of Sherwin Igcasenza Hablero, 30, Job Playda Estipular, 47, and Angelo Igcasenza Hablero, 45, all residents of the area.
Police identified Sherwin Hablero and Estipular as unemployed, while Angelo Hablero works as a tricycle driver. Confiscated from the suspects were one medium-sized heat-sealed plastic sachet containing suspected shabu and a ₱500 bill bearing serial number AR2151692, used as marked money during the transaction.
The three suspects will face charges for violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Just hours earlier, at around 2:30 p.m., another operation was carried out by the same police unit in Sitio Upper Supon, Barangay San Jose, following the implementation of a search warrant. Arrested was Rolly Baterna Pateña, alias “Toto,” 44, married and unemployed.
Authorities recovered from Pateña’s possession one improvised 12-gauge shotgun, two live rounds of ammunition, and one heat-sealed plastic sachet containing suspected shabu. The suspect was arrested by virtue of Search Warrant No. 15-2026, issued on January 23, 2026 by Executive Judge Alena Gale H. Palileo-Yabes of the Regional Trial Court, 11th Judicial Region.
Pateña is facing charges for violations of Sections 11 and 12, Article II of RA 9165, as well as Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. He is currently detained at the Koronadal City PNP lock-up cell pending further disposition.
The Koronadal City Police reiterated its commitment to sustaining intensified anti-illegal drug operations, stressing that coordinated law enforcement actions remain crucial in maintaining peace and public safety in the city.