Dinagyang drug ops hit hard with PHP 24M haul

By Jennifer P. Rendon

More than PHP 24 million worth of illegal drugs were seized as Iloilo City celebrated the Dinagyang Festival 2026.

The drug haul resulted from a series of anti-narcotics operations conducted across Iloilo City and province from Jan. 19 to 25.

Records from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) showed that it conducted 14 operations and arrested 20 drug personalities during the said period.

These operations led to the confiscation of 1.270 kilograms of suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of PHP 8.636 million.

The ICPO’s main anti-drug unit, the City Drug Enforcement Unit, conducted only two operations but seized 875 grams of shabu worth PHP 5.95 million.

Iloilo City Police Station 2 seized PHP 646,000 worth of illegal drugs, while Police Stations 4, 9, 10, and 3 seized PHP 571,200, PHP 496,400, and PHP 374,000 each, respectively.

Police Station 5 accounted for PHP 122,400 in confiscated drugs.

Other ICPO police stations also contributed to the overall anti-drug efforts during Dinagyang week.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) conducted 13 operations during the weeklong campaign.

These led to the arrest of 15 suspects, while two others remain at large.

The IPPO’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit carried out three operations that resulted in the seizure of 460 grams of shabu worth PHP 3.128 million.

The most significant operation came from the Batad Municipal Police Station.

On Jan. 23, Batad police arrested alias Mico, 26, and his wife Inday, 27, both originally from Estancia town but temporarily residing in Barangay Binon-an, Batad, Iloilo.

The couple yielded approximately 1.282 kilograms of suspected shabu valued at PHP 8.717 million, along with a homemade .45-caliber break-type pistol.

In a separate operation, the Sara Municipal Police Station seized 170 grams of shabu worth PHP 1.156 million.

Other contributing police stations in the province included Pavia, Tigbauan, Cabatuan, Dumangas, Passi City, Balasan, Barotac Viejo, and San Dionisio.

Earlier, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 had announced its intention to intensify anti-drug efforts, anticipating an influx of illegal drugs during the Dinagyang Festival.

In the weeks leading up to Dinagyang, PRO-6 also reported high-volume drug seizures across Iloilo City and the province.