ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat – Four men and one woman were arrested after police allegedly caught them in the act of conducting a drug session during a predawn raid in Purok Pag-asa 2, Barangay Kalawag 2, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat on June 26.
The operation stemmed from a complaint filed by a woman who reported being physically abused by her live-in partner while also revealing that their residence was allegedly being used as a venue for illegal drug activities.
The Isulan Municipal Police Station (MPS) identified the arrested suspects only by their aliases: “Ran,” 41; “Jer,” 31; “Ron,” 38; “Mak,” 21; and “Jane,” 28. Four of the suspects are male, while Jane is the lone female arrested in the operation.
According to the police report, at around 4:50 a.m., a woman identified by the alias “Angelita” sought assistance from the Isulan MPS, claiming she had been physically assaulted by her live-in partner, identified as “Abaquita.” She also informed authorities that her partner and several companions were allegedly using illegal drugs inside their residence.
Acting on the complaint, police officers from the Isulan MPS, led by PLTCOL Neil Sally Wadingan, Officer-in-Charge of the station, immediately launched a response operation with the assistance of personnel from the 1st Sultan Kudarat Provincial Mobile Force Company.
Upon arriving at the residence, law enforcement officers reportedly caught the suspects in the middle of an alleged drug session.
Authorities recovered several sachets containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, along with aluminum foil strips, lighters, improvised drug paraphernalia, and other items commonly associated with illegal drug use.
During a body search of Abaquita, police also confiscated a homemade Ingram submachine gun without a serial number, one magazine, six rounds of .45-caliber ammunition, and additional sachets containing suspected shabu.
In total, authorities seized approximately three grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of ₱20,400, based on the prevailing standard drug price.
The four male suspects and one female suspect were taken into the custody of the Isulan Municipal Police Station while investigators prepared the necessary charges against them.
They are expected to face charges for violations of Sections 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), and 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs) of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Additional charges for violation of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, will also be filed in connection with the confiscated homemade firearm and ammunition.
Police said the operation highlights the importance of public cooperation in the fight against illegal drugs and other criminal activities, noting that the successful raid was made possible after the domestic abuse victim courageously reported both the alleged assault and the illegal activities taking place inside the residence.
The suspects remain under police custody pending the filing of formal charges.