Tricycle Driver Arrested, Suspected Shabu Seized in Catbalogan Operation

• A 24-year-old tricycle driver, alias “Rex,” was arrested on July 9 in Catbalogan City during a buy-bust; police tagged him as a High Value Individual.

Let Teña 1 week ago 1.1 K

Posted on July 14, 2026 at 7:51 am

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar — A 24-year-old tricycle driver was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Guinsorongan on July 6, after police accused him of selling illegal drugs.

The suspect, identified only by the alias “Rex,” was listed by police as a High Value Individual (HVI). He is a resident of Barangay 13, Catbalogan City.

Police said an undercover officer bought a sachet of suspected shabu from the suspect during the operation, which was carried out at around 9:07 p.m. on July 6.

After the arrest, officers recovered three more sachets of suspected shabu, the P500 marked bill used in the operation, and a tricycle.

The seized drugs weighed a total of 0.57 grams and were estimated to be worth P6,800.

Members of the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the Catbalogan City Police Station conducted the operation in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). The team was led by Catbalogan City Police Chief PLTCOL Norman D. Ala.

The suspect was taken to the Catbalogan City Police Station, where he remains in custody while charges are being filed for alleged violations of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The case remains under investigation.

Photos by: Let Teña