Police Seize P204K Worth of Suspected Shabu in Tacloban Buy-Bust

Posted on July 10, 2026 at 5:38 am

TACLOBAN CITY — A buy-bust operation in a northern Tacloban City neighborhood shortly after midnight on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, ended with the arrest of a man whom police said had figured in previous illegal drug cases.

Authorities identified the suspect only by the alias “Gerry,” 36, an unemployed resident of New Hope Village in Barangay 107, Sta. Elena. Police described him as a High Value Individual (HVI) in the region’s drug watch list.

Members of the Tacloban City Police Station 3 Station Drug Enforcement Team carried out the operation at around 12:27 a.m. after an undercover officer allegedly purchased a sachet of suspected shabu worth P13,500 from the suspect.

Once the transaction was completed, officers moved in and arrested him.

Police said they recovered six heat-sealed sachets containing about 30 grams of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu with an estimated street value of P204,000. They also seized the marked P500 bill used in the operation, 13 pieces of P1,000 boodle bills, and a cigarette pack that allegedly concealed the suspected illegal drugs.

Investigators said the suspect had previously been arrested for alleged involvement in illegal drugs but later regained his freedom. Authorities did not disclose the status of the earlier case or whether it remains pending before the courts.

The latest arrest highlights a recurring challenge for law enforcement as some individuals accused of drug-related offenses reappear in succeeding police operations while earlier cases remain unresolved or continue through the judicial process.

Police said the quantity of suspected illegal drugs recovered in Wednesday’s operation could strengthen the evidence in the case once charges are filed.

The suspect is expected to face charges for alleged violations of Section 5, or illegal sale of dangerous drugs, and Section 11, or illegal possession of dangerous drugs, under Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

He remains under the custody of the Tacloban City Police Station 3 while the suspected illegal drugs undergo laboratory examination. Police are preparing the criminal complaints for filing before the appropriate court.

For residents of Barangay 107, the operation was another reminder that authorities continue to target suspected drug activities in the community. For police, it marked another arrest in their campaign against illegal drugs. Whether the evidence gathered will lead to a conviction, however, will ultimately be decided by the courts.

Photos by: Ronnie Yanuario