LIBUNGAN, Cotabato — Three individuals were arrested after personnel of the Cotabato Police Provincial Office (CPPO) implemented a search warrant in Sitio Landing, Barangay Cabaruyan, Libungan, Cotabato, on October 12, 2026, leading to the seizure of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price value of ₱227,460.
The operation was conducted in connection with an alleged violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which penalizes the illegal possession of dangerous drugs.
During the search, authorities recovered 20 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, with a combined estimated weight of 33.45 grams. The seized substances were valued at approximately ₱227,460 based on the standard drug price.
Police also confiscated an improvised glass tooter and a medicine box, which were included among the items recovered during the operation.
Authorities said the seized evidence was properly marked and inventoried at the scene in the presence of authorized witnesses, a procedure intended to document the confiscated items and preserve their evidentiary value for possible legal proceedings.
The three arrested individuals were informed of their constitutional rights before being brought to the police station for documentation and proper disposition.
In a statement, CPPO Provincial Director Police Colonel Ramel B. Hojilla underscored the police force’s commitment to strengthening its campaign against illegal drugs and preventing their proliferation in local communities.
“This operation demonstrates our firm resolve to intensify our anti-drug campaign and ensure that illegal drugs do not gain ground in our communities,” Hojilla said.
The operation forms part of the continuing efforts of the Cotabato police to enforce the country’s anti-drug laws and address the presence of illegal substances in communities across the province.
The three individuals may face charges under Republic Act 9165 in connection with the suspected illegal possession of dangerous drugs. Their criminal liability, however, remains subject to the appropriate legal proceedings.
Police have yet to provide further details about the identities of the arrested individuals or the circumstances that led to the issuance of the search warrant.