CANTILAN, Surigao del Sur — Police arrested a 45-year-old driver and confiscated 45.39 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of ₱308,652 during a joint anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Linintian, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, late Friday night, October 31.
The Cantilan Municipal Police Station (MPS), working with the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 13 (RDEU 13) and Regional Intelligence Division 13 (RID 13), conducted the buy-bust operation at around 11:20 p.m. in Purok 3, Barangay Linintian.
The arrested suspect, identified only by the alias “Vin,” is a 45-year-old married man employed as a driver and a resident of Purok 2, Barangay Consuelo, Cantilan.
Police reported recovering 21 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, with a combined estimated weight of 45.39 grams. Authorities placed the seized substance’s estimated standard drug price at ₱308,652.
Other items reportedly recovered during the operation included disposable lighters, a blue glass tooter, and cash in various denominations.
The operation was spearheaded by PCPT Jovie C. Alngog, officer in charge of the Cantilan MPS Anti-Criminality Operations Program (ACOP), pursuant to RID TIP File No. A-2026-28-PRO 13-RASDS. It was also coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) under Pre-Operations No. 14-00-10312026-024.
As part of the required safeguards, an elected barangay council member of Barangay Linintian frisked the designated police searcher before the search was conducted. Police said the marking and inventory of the seized items were carried out at the arrest site in the presence of the suspect and a media representative who served as a witness.
The suspect and confiscated evidence remain under the custody of the Cantilan MPS for documentation, investigation, and proper disposition. Police said appropriate charges would be prepared and filed in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.
In a statement, the Cantilan MPS acknowledged the continued support of Mayor Philip A. Pichay and the municipal government for local peace and order initiatives, particularly operations against illegal drugs.
The arrest adds to the municipality’s ongoing law enforcement efforts against the illegal drug trade. However, the confiscated substance remains subject to proper forensic examination to establish its identity, while the suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.