PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — A 47-year-old woman was arrested in a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-led buy-bust operation in Barangay Tiguma, Pagadian City, on the evening of October 27, 2026, after authorities recovered approximately 27 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of ₱183,600.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Julay,” is a 47-year-old married woman and resident of Barangay San Francisco, Pagadian City. Authorities described her as a college graduate and bookkeeper.
The operation was conducted at approximately 6:35 p.m. by the PDEA Regional Office 9 through its Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Office (ZDSPO), in coordination with several law enforcement units.
During the operation, authorities confiscated nine heat-sealed plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu. The seized substance had an estimated combined weight of 27 grams and a reported market value of ₱183,600.
Aside from the suspected illegal drugs, operatives also recovered a cellular phone, a sling bag, several coin purses, a piece of paper reportedly used to contain the suspected drugs, live rounds of ammunition, and the buy-bust money used during the operation.
The presence of ammunition among the recovered items may also expose the suspect to additional legal proceedings under firearms regulations, depending on the results of the investigation and the circumstances surrounding its possession.
The arrested woman may face charges for alleged violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, covering the sale and possession of dangerous drugs.
She may also face charges under applicable provisions of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, in connection with the recovered live ammunition, subject to further investigation.
The operation was led by PDEA RO9-ZDSPO, with support from the Philippine National Police Regional Intelligence Unit 9 (PNP RIU9), the Philippine Coast Guard through the Coast Guard Intelligence Unit in Zamboanga del Sur (PCG/CGIU ZDS), and the 90th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9 (90th MC RMFB 9).
The arrest adds to the continuing anti-illegal drug enforcement efforts in Zamboanga del Sur, where authorities conduct coordinated operations targeting individuals suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade.
The seized substance will be subject to appropriate examination and documentation as part of the investigation. The suspect’s arrest and the confiscation of the items do not, by themselves, establish guilt, which must be determined through judicial proceedings.