Authorities arrested a top regional drug target and seized nearly half a million pesos worth of suspected shabu during a series of anti-drug operations in Pangantucan, Bukidnon.
Personnel from the Bukidnon Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, in coordination with the Pangantucan Municipal Police Station, Bukidnon 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Bukidnon Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Bukidnon Police Provincial Office, implemented a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, on March 3 in Purok 1, Barangay Bangahan.
The operation led to the arrest of alias “Jonny,” a 41-year-old farmer identified by police as the Top No. 1 Regional Priority Target and classified as a High Value Individual in the illegal drug trade.
Authorities served the search warrant at around 6:05 a.m. and conducted a search of the suspect’s residence. During the operation, police confiscated 10 large sachets containing suspected shabu with a total weight of 65.8 grams and an estimated standard drug price of P447,440.
Also recovered during the search were a weighing scale, a sunglasses case, and other drug paraphernalia believed to be used in the illegal drug trade.
According to police reports, the suspect admitted that he had been using and selling illegal drugs following the death of his wife. Authorities said he allegedly continued the activity despite being admonished by his eldest child, a 12-year-old.
The arrest also left three minor children of the suspect without parental supervision after he was taken into police custody.
Charges for violation of Sections 11 and 12, Article II of RA 9165 have been prepared against the suspect. He is currently detained at the Pangantucan Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and disposition.
The seized drug evidence was turned over to the Bukidnon Provincial Forensic Unit for qualitative and quantitative examination.
In a separate operation conducted in the same municipality, a buy-bust operation carried out by personnel of the Pangantucan Municipal Police Station led by Police Captain Christopher P. Tuzara, station commander, resulted in the arrest of another drug suspect identified as alias “Ryan,” 42, also tagged as a High Value Individual.
The operation was conducted in Purok 3, Barangay Barandias, Pangantucan, with the assistance of the Bukidnon 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company and the 1004th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion.
Police seized 2.08 grams of suspected shabu from the suspect, with an estimated street value of P14,144.
Cases for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of RA 9165 are being prepared against the suspect, who is now under the custody of the Pangantucan Municipal Police Station.
The confiscated drug items from the buy-bust operation were also submitted to the Bukidnon Provincial Forensic Unit for laboratory examination.
Authorities said the successful operations highlight the intensified anti-drug campaign in Bukidnon aimed at dismantling local drug networks and apprehending high-value targets involved in the illegal drug trade.