A long-sought high-value individual (HVI) linked to the Mercurio Criminal Gang was apprehended alongside a female companion during an anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay San Jose on September 7.
The 40-year-old male suspect, a resident of Castillejos, and a 23-year-old woman were taken into custody by a joint team comprising the Castillejos Municipal Police Station, the Zambales Police Intelligence Unit, and the Zambales Provincial Intelligence Team of Regional Intelligence Unit 3.
During the operation, officers recovered seven heat-sealed sachets containing roughly 13 grams of suspected shabu, valued at an estimated standard price of ₱88,400.
Both suspects and the confiscated evidence were transferred to the Castillejos Municipal Police Station for formal documentation and processing.
Chief PNP Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. highlighted that the successful arrest underscores the necessity of persistent intelligence gathering and synchronized law enforcement operations.
“If he managed to evade capture for a long time, that only means we must be even more patient,” PGen Nartatez stated. “What matters to us, whatever the circumstances, is that we follow the law. There is information, validation, proper coordination, and due process following the arrest.”
