Drug Suspect Caught in Buy-Bust in Catbalogan City

Posted on Jan. 25, 2026 at 10:39 pm

CATBALOGAN CITY — A suspected street-level drug dealer was arrested inside a buy-bust operation by authorities last Saturday night, January 24, 2026, at Purok 3, Barangay Canlapwas in this city.

Police identified the suspect as a 43-year-old self-employed man living with a partner in the barangay. He was apprehended around 9:35 p.m.

The drug operations team confiscated four sachets of suspected shabu from the suspect, with one sachet being the buy-bust item and the other three from the suspect’s possession, along with a 500 bill used as buy-bust money. The total weight of the illegal drugs seized was 0. 64 grams, with an estimated market value of P4, 352.

The Catbalogan City Police Station Drug Enforcement Team (CPSDET) under PCPT Jefferson Arellano, supervised by PLTCOL Norman Ala, Acting Chief of Police, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Samar, led the operation.

All confiscated items were identified and inventoried at the place of arrest in the presence of witnesses. The suspect is currently detained at the Catbalogan City Police Station, and the charges corresponding to his violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared.

(Photos by: Let Teña)