POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato — Anti-narcotics operatives arrested two alleged high-value drug personalities and seized more than ₱350,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Glamang on Friday, March 13.
The operation, conducted at around 12:48 p.m. at a waiting shed in the barangay, was carried out by operatives of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit of the Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12), with support from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Group 12, the Regional Intelligence Division 12, and the Polomolok Municipal Police Station. Authorities coordinated closely with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 12 during the operation.
Police identified the arrested suspects only by their aliases “Butchoy” and “Tin,” both residents of Tampakan, South Cotabato. Authorities classified the two as High-Value Individuals (HVIs), indicating their alleged involvement in significant illegal drug activities within the region.
According to police reports, the operation resulted in the confiscation of suspected shabu weighing a total of about 51.5 grams, with an estimated street value of approximately ₱350,200 based on the National Standard Drug Price.
Among the items seized were a sachet of suspected shabu weighing about 0.5 gram that was allegedly sold to an undercover operative acting as poseur-buyer. Authorities also recovered one large sachet containing approximately 20 grams of suspected shabu, six medium-sized sachets each weighing around 5 grams, and two additional small sachets weighing about 0.5 gram each.
Operatives also recovered the marked buy-bust money consisting of one ₱1,000 bill used during the transaction. Other items seized included a coin purse and a pouch believed to have been used to store illegal drugs, several personal cash bills, and an Android cellular phone suspected to have been used in coordinating drug transactions.
Authorities immediately conducted the marking, inventory, and documentation of the seized evidence at the site of the operation in the presence of the arrested suspects and required witnesses, following standard operating procedures under the anti-drug campaign.
The confiscated substances have been turned over to investigators and will undergo laboratory examination at the Regional Forensic Unit in General Santos City to confirm their composition.
The two suspects are currently under the temporary custody of the Polomolok Municipal Police Station while authorities prepare formal charges against them for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PBGen. Arnold P. Pardiente, regional director of Police Regional Office 12, commended the operating units for the successful anti-drug operation and reiterated the police force’s commitment to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs across the region.
He emphasized that authorities will continue to pursue drug personalities and dismantle drug networks in South Cotabato and neighboring areas as part of the government’s broader effort to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs.