TAGO, Surigao del Sur — A high-value drug suspect was arrested during a coordinated anti-illegal drugs operation conducted by law enforcement authorities in Barangay Purisima, Tago, Surigao del Sur on the evening of March 15, 2026.
Elements of the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (SDSPPO) successfully carried out the buy-bust operation that led to the apprehension of a suspected drug personality identified only by his alias “Paru,” a 26-year-old resident of Tandag City.
According to Police Colonel Jeffrey Lawrence D. Mauricio, Provincial Director of the SDSPPO, the suspect had been under monitoring by authorities and was classified as a High-Value Individual (HVI) in the law enforcement watchlist due to his alleged involvement in illegal drug activities in the province.
The operation was conducted at approximately 8:19 p.m. in Purok Mangga 2, Barangay Purisima, where joint operatives from the SDSPPO Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) carried out the sting operation. The operation was undertaken in coordination with personnel from the Tago Municipal Police Station and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Surigao del Sur Provincial Office (PDEA SDS PO 13).
Authorities said the operation was launched after the Provincial Intelligence Unit developed a Target Intelligence Packet, which identified the suspect as actively engaged in the sale of illegal drugs in the area.
During the operation, the suspect allegedly sold suspected illegal drugs to an undercover police officer, prompting operatives to immediately move in and arrest him.
Recovered from the suspect during the operation were several pieces of evidence, including 19 heat-sealed sachets containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, with an estimated total weight of 15 grams and a street value of approximately ₱102,000.
Authorities also confiscated the ₱1,000 marked buy-bust money, along with two counterfeit ₱1,000 bills, a Samsung Android smartphone, and several drug-related paraphernalia believed to have been used in the distribution of illegal drugs.
Police said the conduct of the search and the inventory of the seized items strictly followed standard procedures, with the presence of required witnesses, including a barangay kagawad, a Department of Justice (DOJ) representative, and a media representative, to ensure transparency and compliance with legal protocols.
Following his arrest, the suspect was informed of his constitutional rights under the Miranda Doctrine and was also given an Anti-Torture Act warning before being transported to the custody of the Tago Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and processing.
Mauricio said the operation highlights the continuing efforts of the police and partner agencies to combat illegal drugs and dismantle drug networks operating within the province.
“This successful operation underscores our relentless commitment to purging Surigao del Sur of illegal drugs. By neutralizing High-Value Individuals, we are not just making arrests; we are dismantling the networks that threaten the safety and future of our communities,” Mauricio said.
The suspect remains under police custody while authorities prepare charges against him for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The confiscated substances will undergo laboratory examination as part of the evidentiary process in the filing of the case against the suspect.