CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A 27-year-old man identified by police as a high-value individual (HVI) was arrested after authorities seized approximately 60 grams of suspected shabu worth ₱408,000 during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Nazareth in the early hours of Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Mego,” is a resident of Pinikitan, Barangay Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City. He was apprehended at around 1:26 a.m. at the Rotonda area in Barangay Nazareth during an anti-illegal drugs operation conducted by multiple law enforcement units.
The operation was led by Team 2 of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU), in coordination with Police Station 9 of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO), TRACKER Team 1 of the Regional Intelligence Division 10 (RID 10), the COCPO City Mobile Force Company, the PDEG Special Operations Unit 10 (SOU 10), and the Regional Intelligence Unit 10 (RIU 10). The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was also coordinated with for the operation.
Authorities confiscated approximately 60 grams of suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of ₱408,000. The seized substance will be submitted to Regional Forensic Unit 10 (RFU 10) for laboratory examination to determine its composition.
Following his arrest, the suspect was placed under the custody of the Maharlika Custodial Facility for appropriate legal disposition. Authorities are expected to proceed with the necessary documentation and legal processes in connection with the operation.
Police Regional Office 10 (PRO 10) Regional Director PBGEN Nestor C. Babagay Jr. reiterated the police force’s commitment to conducting intelligence-driven operations against illegal drugs throughout Northern Mindanao.
Babagay also urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement authorities and report information that could help prevent illegal drug activities and maintain peace and security in local communities.
The arrest forms part of the continuing anti-illegal drugs campaign in Northern Mindanao. Authorities have emphasized the importance of coordinated police operations and community participation in addressing the drug problem.
The suspect’s guilt, however, has yet to be established in court. The confiscated substance must also undergo forensic examination to confirm whether it is an illegal drug.
Authorities have not disclosed further details regarding the suspect’s alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade or whether additional arrests are expected in connection with the operation.