TACLOBAN CITY – Four individuals tagged as high-value drug personalities were arrested during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Governor E. Jaro, Babatngon, Leyte, on July 9, 2025, in what authorities described as a major blow to the illegal drug trade in the province.
The joint operation was conducted by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 8 (RPDEU-8), Regional Intelligence Division (RID-8), Babatngon Municipal Police Station, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 8 (PDEA-8).
Police Brigadier General Jay Cumigad, regional director of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8), commended the coordination among the participating units and reiterated the agency’s commitment to sustain the anti-drug campaign across Eastern Visayas.
“PRO-8 will continue to intensify its campaign against the use and distribution of illegal drugs,” Cumigad said. “Our law enforcement efforts must be relentless to hold drug personalities accountable and keep our communities safe,” he said in a statement.
The arrested suspects were identified as alias “Ben,” 53, a farmer and the No. 1 target on the Regional Priority Target List (RPTL); “Marj,” 21, unemployed, resident of Babatngon; “Ken,” 28, unemployed, also from Babatngon; and “Leo,” 58, a carpenter from Barangay 98, Camansihay, Tacloban City.
During the operation, authorities recovered 11 sachets of suspected shabu—one of which was used in the actual sale—along with drug paraphernalia reportedly used in a pot session.
The suspects are facing multiple charges under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
(RONALD O. REYES)
