Ex-criminology student among four in PHP 1.07 million shabu busts

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Four people, including a collector and a former criminology student, were arrested in separate anti-illegal drug operations across Negros Island on Aug. 19 and 20 that yielded PHP 1,067,600 worth of suspected shabu.

The four operations resulted in the seizure of a combined 157 grams of suspected shabu.

In Negros Occidental, a 30-year-old collector for an appliance center whom police tagged as a newly identified high-value individual was arrested in Barangay Poblacion 1, Sagay City, on Wednesday.

Police recovered 60 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 408,000 from the suspect, identified only by the alias “Babyboy,” a resident of Barangay Tadlong, Sagay City.

Police alleged that “Babyboy” sourced suspected shabu from Bacolod City and distributed it to customers in Sagay City.

Also arrested that day was a 19-year-old former criminology student who allegedly yielded 52 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP 353,600 during a drug bust in Barangay Sum-ag in Bacolod City.

Police identified the suspect only by the alias “Tata,” a resident of Barangay 1 in Bacolod City, and classified the suspect as a high-value individual.

According to a report from the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region, or PRO-NIR, payments were allegedly made through an e-wallet, while the suspect reportedly carried about 25 to 50 grams of suspected illegal drugs during each operation.

In Negros Oriental, police arrested a 35-year-old man tagged as a street-level individual after allegedly recovering 30 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 204,000 in Barangay Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City.

The suspect, identified only by the alias “Jo,” is a resident of Barangay Cawitan in Santa Catalina and was allegedly involved in the delivery and distribution of illegal drugs, police said.

The following day, police arrested a 42-year-old man identified only as “Melvin” after allegedly recovering 15 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 102,000 in Barangay 19-A, Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

Police identified “Melvin” as a resident of the same village and a motorcycle driver.

PRO-NIR, the Philippine National Police’s 18th regional office, was formally activated on March 27, 2025, and oversees police units in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Bacolod City.

Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, acting PRO-NIR regional director, warned those who continue to engage in the illegal drug trade that authorities would find and arrest them and hold them accountable.

Cardiño stressed that there is no safe haven for those who sell and distribute illegal drugs in Negros Island.

He said every gram of shabu seized represents a threat removed from communities and every arrest brings authorities closer to a safer and more secure region.

“We will not relent, and we will not allow the illegal drug trade to gain ground,” Cardiño said in a statement.