PIKIT, Cotabato — A joint anti-illegal drug operation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) resulted in the arrest of a High-Value Individual (HVI) and the seizure of suspected shabu worth ₱102,000, along with three pistols and one rifle, during the implementation of a court-issued search warrant in Barangay Poblacion, Pikit, Cotabato, on July 20, 2026.
The operation was jointly conducted by personnel from the Pikit Municipal Police Station, the 2nd Cotabato Provincial Mobile Force Company, the Cotabato Police Provincial Office (CPPO) Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, and PDEA Regional Office 12. Authorities served Search Warrant No. 26-023 for an alleged violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
During the operation, law enforcement officers arrested a 50-year-old businessman and resident of Barangay Poblacion, Pikit, who was identified by authorities as a High-Value Individual in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.
Operatives recovered 14 sachets of suspected shabu weighing approximately 15 grams, with an estimated street value of ₱102,000.
In addition to the illegal drugs, authorities also confiscated four firearms, consisting of:
- One caliber .45 STI pistol
- Two 9mm pistols
- One CZ858 rifle
Police said all confiscated items were properly inventoried, photographed, and documented in the presence of the mandatory witnesses, in compliance with the legal procedures prescribed under Philippine law to preserve the integrity of the evidence.
The arrested suspect, along with the seized illegal drugs and firearms, was taken into police custody for documentation and the filing of appropriate criminal charges.
Cotabato Police Provincial Director PCOL Ramel B. Hojilla lauded the operating units for the successful operation, describing it as another significant accomplishment in the province’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs and criminality.
“The arrest and seizure demonstrate the strengthened partnership between the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in dismantling illegal drug activities in the province,” Hojilla said.
He further emphasized that the Cotabato Police Provincial Office (CPPO) remains committed to conducting aggressive but lawful law enforcement operations aimed at protecting communities from the threats posed by illegal drugs and other forms of criminality.
Authorities reiterated that the operation reflects the government’s continuing efforts to remove illegal drugs from communities while ensuring that all police actions are carried out in accordance with the rule of law and established legal procedures.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities determine whether the suspect may have links to a wider illegal drug network operating within Cotabato Province and nearby areas.