DAVAO REGION, Philippines — Authorities dismantled two suspected drug dens and arrested eight individuals in separate anti-illegal drug operations conducted by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region XI (PDEA-XI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Mati City, Davao Oriental and Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
According to PDEA-XI, the first operation was carried out at around 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Purok Malipayon 2, Barangay Dahican, Mati City, where four individuals allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade were apprehended.
Authorities identified the suspects by their aliases “Buching,” 39, “Snake,” “Nante,” and “Pat.”
Investigators said alias “Buching” was the target of the buy-bust operation after he allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover operative. He was also tagged by authorities as the maintainer of the drug den operating in the area.
Alias “Snake” was identified as a drug den employee, while “Nante” and “Pat” were reportedly drug den visitors who were present at the time of the raid.
During the operation, law enforcers confiscated four additional sachets of suspected shabu, bringing the total estimated value of the seized illegal drugs to around ₱110,000.
Separate dawn operation in Panabo City
In a separate anti-drug operation conducted at around 3:00 a.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026, joint operatives of PDEA and the PNP also dismantled another suspected drug den in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, resulting in the arrest of four more suspects.
The arrested individuals were identified by their aliases “Kakoy,” 40, “Weng,” “Malou,” and “Jun-Jun.”
Authorities said alias “Kakoy” allegedly acted as the drug den maintainer and was caught after selling suspected shabu worth ₱7,000 to an undercover agent during the buy-bust operation.
Meanwhile, aliases “Weng” and “Malou” were believed to be co-conspirators assisting in the operation of the drug den, while “Jun-Jun” was identified as a drug den visitor.
Recovered from the suspects were additional sachets of suspected shabu, with the total value of seized and purchased illegal drugs estimated at ₱112,000.
Charges being prepared
Authorities said the dismantling of the two suspected drug dens is part of intensified anti-illegal drug operations in the Davao Region.
The eight arrested suspects are now under police custody and are expected to face charges for violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, particularly for maintaining a drug den, selling illegal drugs, and possession of dangerous drugs.
Officials reiterated that operations against illegal drug activities will continue as part of the government’s campaign to curb narcotics distribution and dismantle drug networks operating in communities across the region.