KIBLAWAN, Davao del Sur — A series of coordinated law enforcement operations in Barangay Kimlawis, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur, on August 30, 2026, resulted in the arrest of a murder suspect listed as the province’s Top 1 Most Wanted Person, the voluntary surrender of three loose firearms, and the discovery and eradication of seven fully grown suspected marijuana plants.
The operations, conducted by multiple units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), were part of intensified law enforcement efforts targeting wanted persons, unlicensed or loose firearms, and illegal drugs in the municipality.
According to the police, the most significant accomplishment was the arrest of the Top 1 Most Wanted Person at the provincial level for murder. Authorities did not identify the suspect in the information released regarding the operation.
The arrest underscores the continuing efforts of law enforcement authorities to locate and apprehend individuals facing serious criminal charges, particularly those identified through the police’s wanted-person monitoring and tracking operations.
Three loose firearms voluntarily surrendered
The operations also resulted in the voluntary surrender of three loose firearms in the area.
The firearms consisted of:
- One improvised rifle chambered in 5.56mm; and
- Two improvised 12-gauge shotguns.
The surrender of the firearms forms part of the police campaign to account for and remove loose and unauthorized weapons from communities, particularly in areas where unregulated firearms may pose a threat to public safety.
Authorities continue to encourage individuals possessing undocumented or unauthorized firearms to surrender them through proper channels, in line with government efforts to reduce the presence of loose firearms and prevent their potential use in criminal activities.
Suspected marijuana plants eradicated
During the same series of operations, authorities also discovered and eradicated seven fully grown suspected endemic marijuana plants.
Police estimated the plants to have a street value of approximately ₱1,400.
The plants were reportedly destroyed following their discovery, preventing them from potentially being cultivated further or entering the illegal drug trade.
While the amount recovered was relatively small, the operation forms part of broader law enforcement efforts to identify and eliminate marijuana cultivation sites and other sources of illegal drugs, including those located in remote or difficult-to-reach communities.
Multi-agency operation
The operations were carried out by personnel of the Kiblawan Municipal Police Station, in coordination with the Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office (DSPPO), PDEA Davao del Sur, the 1st and 2nd Davao del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Companies (DSPMFC), 1104th Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 11 (RMFB 11), Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), Davao del Sur Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (DSPDEU), Regional Intelligence Unit Police Intelligence Team-Davao Sur (RIU PIT-Davao Sur), and Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) Cluster 5.
The operations were conducted under the supervision of Police Colonel Leo T. Ajero, Provincial Director of the Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office.
The coordination among the different police and anti-drug units allowed authorities to simultaneously pursue several law enforcement objectives in Barangay Kimlawis, covering the apprehension of a wanted person, the accounting of loose firearms, and the suppression of suspected illegal drug cultivation.
Intensified campaign in far-flung communities
The accomplishments in Kiblawan highlight the PNP’s continuing campaign to strengthen law enforcement operations not only in urban centers but also in far-flung and rural communities.
Authorities have increasingly emphasized the importance of sustained intelligence gathering, inter-unit coordination, and community cooperation in locating wanted persons, recovering loose firearms, and detecting illegal drug activities.
The police said the latest operations demonstrate their commitment to maintaining peace and order and addressing criminal activities at the community level.
The Kiblawan Municipal Police Station also expressed its appreciation to the Local Government Unit of Kiblawan for its continued support and cooperation with law enforcement authorities.
Police said the partnership between local government authorities, law enforcement agencies, and communities remains important in strengthening public safety and maintaining peace and order across the municipality.
The latest accomplishments are expected to form part of the continuing law enforcement campaign in Kiblawan and other areas of Davao del Sur, particularly against wanted individuals, loose firearms, and illegal drug activities.