Four Men Arrested in Tacloban Buy-Bust; P63,376 Suspected Shabu Seized

Posted on October 27, 2026 at 7:39 AM

Tacloban City — Four men were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay 42-A late Monday night, October 26, after authorities seized 9.32 grams of suspected shabu worth P63,376, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

The operation was conducted at around 10:50 p.m. by PDEA Region 8’s Biliran Provincial Office, with support from the agency’s Regional Special Enforcement Team, PDEA Tacloban City Office, and Tacloban City Police Station 2.

Authorities identified the arrested men as alias Roy, 36, a helper; alias Basyong, 49, a caretaker; alias Ron, 45, a laborer; and alias Zaldy, 45, a junkshop worker. All four are residents of Barangay 42-A.

Operatives recovered six heat-sealed plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu. One sachet, weighing 0.436 gram, was reportedly used in the alleged drug transaction, while the other five, with a combined weight of 8.884 grams, were seized as evidence of alleged possession.

The total weight of the seized substance was placed at 9.32 grams, with a standard drug value of P63,376.

Authorities also listed a genuine P500 bill allegedly used in the operation, a white box container, two pairs of scissors, an improvised metal tooter, two empty plastic sachets, five disposable lighters, and seven pieces of used aluminum foil among the items recovered.

The PDEA Biliran Provincial Office team leader said the operation showed the importance of coordination among law enforcement units and urged residents to report suspected illegal drug activities through proper channels.

The official also said the suspects would be accorded due process, while the seized items would undergo the required examination and documentation.

The initial report cited possible violations of Sections 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 15 of Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The specific charges to be filed will depend on the evidence and the findings of the investigation.

Authorities had yet to provide further details on the suspects’ alleged individual roles, their detention, or whether formal charges had been filed as of the initial report.

The four men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Photos by: Alfadz Jussil Prado, The Vanguard