Ex-drug offender caught with PHP680K shabu in Bacolod

By Glazyl M. Jopson

A 41-year-old man previously jailed for a drug offense was arrested again for the same violation after authorities seized PHP 680,000 worth of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, on Monday, Dec. 23.

Police Lt. Richard Legada, assistant chief of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), identified the suspect only by his alias “Watari,” who is classified as a high-value individual.

He was previously arrested in 2021 and released in January of this year.

According to the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), the suspect had been allegedly transacting illegal drugs in various barangays, including 16, 34, 35, Tangub, and Singcang-Airport.

Acting on this intelligence, police launched two weeks of casing and surveillance in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Seized from the suspect were 11 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 100 grams and the PHP 1,000 marked money.

He is currently detained at Police Station 8.

In a statement, PRO-NIR said the operation reflects its continued and island-wide commitment to eradicating illegal drugs, ensuring that “no corner is beyond the reach of justice.”

The regional command emphasized the importance of public cooperation, noting that swift and decisive action was made possible through strong community support.

“This sends a message that those who threaten the safety and security of our communities will face unrelenting accountability,” it added.