POLICE operatives in Region 12 arrested two suspected drug personalities and confiscated over five grams of illegal drugs during separate buy-bust operations conducted on September 18, 2026.
The first operation took place at around 5:15 PM in Barangay Zone I, Koronadal City.
Joint forces from the Koronadal City Police Station City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), intelligence operatives, the South Cotabato Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, and the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company—operating in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)—arrested 39-year-old alias “Rin-rin,” an unemployed resident of the area.
Authorities recovered three sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) weighing approximately two grams, valued at an estimated street price of ₱9,000, along with the ₱500 marked buy-bust money.
The suspect remains in police custody while investigators prepare complaints for violations of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Later that evening, at approximately 8:41 PM, a second operation in Purok Katilingban, Barangay San Pablo, Tacurong City, led to the arrest of a 24-year-old high value individual (HVI) identified as alias “Lakay.”
A resident of Barangay Poblacion, Tacurong City, Lakay was formally listed as an HVI by PDEA Regional Office XII.
Tacurong City Police Station operatives executed the sting in coordination with PDEA, seizing two sachets of suspected shabu weighing a total of 3.68 grams, with a Standard Drug Price of ₱25,024.
Operatives also retrieved a leather sling bag, a Samsung Galaxy S7, and the ₱500 buy-bust money.
The inventory and marking of evidence were conducted in the presence of a barangay official and a media representative.
Police Brigadier General Alan B. Manibog, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 12 (PRO 12), reiterated the command’s commitment to curbing illegal drugs across the region.
“We will continuously intensify our operations against illegal drugs. Every arrest is part of our effort to keep our communities safe and protect our citizens from the dangers of drug abuse,” Manibog said, adding that all law enforcement actions will strictly adhere to the law and respect human rights.
