BCPO Seizes PHP32.9 Million in Illegal Drugs

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Following the 2025 midterm elections, the Bacolod City Police Office resumed its anti-drug operations, arresting three high-value individuals and seizing about 4.6 kilograms of suspected shabu worth PHP32.93 million on Sunday.

The City Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a buy-bust operation at 2:15 a.m. in Barangay Estefania, where a 37-year-old suspect identified as “Jom” was arrested.

Police recovered 2,500 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP17 million, allegedly stored in tea or fruit packaging believed to have originated from Luzon.

BCPO director Police Col. Joeresty Coronica said Jom is suspected to be a bodegero or drug keeper.

About an hour later, Police Station 2 arrested another suspect, 41-year-old “Robert,” in Barangay 2.

He was allegedly caught with 1,000 grams of suspected shabu estimated at PHP6.8 million.

Police Maj. Eugene Tolentino, chief of Police Station 2, described Robert as an alleged big-time drug pusher who had been previously arrested for a similar offense.

Authorities suspect the drugs were also sourced from Luzon and transported to Bacolod for distribution.

Coronica said the two suspects might share the same supplier and had grown complacent, assuming police were preoccupied with election-related duties.

“With this accomplishment, we were able to save the lives of would-be victims,” he said.

He added that the seized drugs were likely intended for distribution in Bacolod and nearby towns in Negros Occidental.

Later that afternoon, Police Station 8 arrested 41-year-old “Cherry,” a resident of Jaro, Iloilo City, at a lodging house in Barangay Singcang-Airport.

Police seized 1,100 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP9.13 million.

The drugs were packed in a bag sealed with a rubber band and marked with Chinese characters.

A digital weighing scale was also recovered.

Police Capt. Greeky Cayao, chief of Police Station 8, said the suspect had arrived from Iloilo City via a roll-on, roll-off vessel earlier that day.

Cayao said Cherry frequently traveled between Iloilo and Bacolod to conduct illegal drug transactions and is believed to be a drug runner.

He said the seized drugs were reportedly sourced from Mindoro, which is part of Luzon.

Cayao added that investigators are checking if she has links to the two suspects arrested earlier that day.

“We are probing if the three have the same supplier,” he said.

Police are also investigating if she had an accomplice in transporting the contraband to Bacolod.

Given the volume of drugs seized, Cayao believes Cherry may also be operating in Iloilo and other parts of Negros Occidental.

He noted that while the standard drug price of shabu is PHP6,800 per gram, its street value can reach PHP8,300.

The three suspects will face charges under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Coronica commended the involved police units for their vigilance and commitment to public safety.

“We will continue to pursue those who threaten the peace and well-being of our community,” he said.

BCPO also urged the public to report any suspicious drug-related activity to the nearest police station or through official hotline numbers.