Ronnie Yanuario Tacloban City — In a decisive move to curb illegal drugs in the city, the Tacloban City Police Office successfully arrested two suspected drug distributors and confiscated an estimated P34,000 worth of suspected Shabu during a buy-bust operation on the evening of October 20, 2025.
The operation, led by the Police Station 1 Drug Enforcement Team, unfolded at around 7:53 PM in Barangay 110 Utap. Using a carefully coordinated sting, a police officer posing as a buyer secured one pack of suspected Shabu for P500, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the seizure of 10 packs of the illegal substance weighing roughly 5 grams in total.
The arrested individuals were identified only by their street names: “Lovely,” a 38-year-old separated woman from Tanauan, Leyte, currently staying in Utap, and “Jojo,” a 45-year-old married man residing in Barangay Nula-tula, Tacloban City. Both are currently unemployed but believed to be active distributors of illegal drugs in the city.
Alongside the narcotics, authorities recovered several items from the suspects, including a pouch, a sunglass case holder, and the marked buy-bust money used in the operation—a P500 bill bearing serial number ED7734921—serving as critical evidence for the case.
Police officials reiterated their commitment to ongoing efforts to fight illegal drugs and protect the community. Both suspects now face multiple charges under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165), specifically for the sale and possession of illegal substances, and are temporarily detained at the Tacloban City Police Station 1 lock-up.
This operation marks another step forward in Tacloban’s continuing fight against the drug menace, with authorities encouraging community cooperation to help maintain peace and safety across the city.
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