Rolly Magallanes Posted on November 13, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Tacloban City — Police arrested a 48-year-old man and seized around five grams of suspected shabu worth P34,000 in a buy-bust operation in Barangay 110, Utap, on November 12.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Jojo,” was arrested at around 1:10 p.m. in Zone 2 of the barangay.
Operatives from the Tacloban City Police Drug Enforcement Unit (CPDEU), led by P/Lt. Alberto R. Canonigo Jr. and supervised by CPDEU chief P/Maj. Jhon Rey R. Layog, conducted the operation in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 8.
Police recovered five heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu during the operation. One sachet was allegedly sold to an undercover police officer, while the other four were seized from the suspect.
Also recovered were a brown coin purse and marked money consisting of one genuine P500 bill and two P1,000 bills used as boodle money.
The seized drugs weighed approximately five grams and had an estimated street value of P34,000, based on the Dangerous Drugs Board valuation.
The suspect is facing complaints for alleged violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which penalizes the sale and possession of dangerous drugs.
The seized items were marked and inventoried at the scene in the presence of the suspect and the required witnesses.
The suspect remains in police custody pending the filing of formal charges.
Photos by Rolly Magallanes
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