ESPERANZA, Sultan Kudarat — Authorities seized suspected illegal drugs, live ammunition, and assorted drug paraphernalia during a predawn search warrant operation on Tuesday, April 28, but the primary suspect managed to flee, triggering an ongoing manhunt.
Joint operatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Esperanza Municipal Police Station, in coordination with elements of the 1202nd Regional Force Mobile Battalion 12, 2nd Sultan Kudarat Provincial Mobile Force Company, Police Drug Enforcement Unit, Police Intelligence Unit, and the 57th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, served Search Warrant No. 26-577 at around 7:46 a.m. in Purok 8, Barangay Ilian.
The warrant, issued by a regional trial court in Isulan, targeted a resident identified only by aliases “Edil” and “Datz Adzal,” described as a father and adult male. However, the suspect reportedly sensed the arrival of authorities and escaped through the rear of his residence, fleeing toward an unknown direction.
Despite the suspect’s escape, operatives recovered substantial evidence inside the house. Among those seized were multiple sachets of suspected shabu—estimated at around 20 grams with a street value of approximately ₱136,000—along with empty sachets, aluminum foil, a sling bag, lighters, scissors, and an improvised bamboo tooter commonly used in drug consumption.
Authorities also confiscated live ammunition, including rounds for caliber .40 firearms and 5.56mm rifles, as well as ammunition linked to high-powered weapons such as M16 rifles and even an M203 grenade launcher—raising alarm over the potential gravity of the suspect’s activities.
All recovered items have been turned over to the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Forensic Unit for laboratory examination and proper documentation.
Police said criminal charges are being prepared against the suspect for violations of Republic Act 9165, particularly Sections 11 and 16 covering possession of illegal drugs and paraphernalia. Additional charges are also being readied under Republic Act 10591 and Republic Act 9516 due to the recovery of ammunition linked to high-powered and explosive-capable weaponry.
Authorities have launched a hot pursuit operation to track down the suspect, who remains at large. Police urged the public to report any information that may lead to his arrest, emphasizing that intensified operations against illegal drugs and firearms will continue across the province.