Four arrested in Roxas City drug den raid

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Four individuals, including a father and son, were arrested during an anti-illegal drug operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Antique at a suspected drug den in Sitio Datiles, Barangay Tanque, Roxas City, early Friday morning, Nov. 6, 2026.

The operation targeted Ruben “Toto” Distura Jr., 39, a tricycle driver and on-call electrician residing in the area.

According to authorities, an operative acting as a poseur-buyer successfully purchased a sachet of suspected shabu, or methamphetamine hydrochloride, from Distura during the buy-bust operation.

A subsequent body search yielded a belt bag containing five additional sachets of suspected shabu.

Operatives also recovered another sachet of suspected shabu from a table inside the room, along with drug paraphernalia and other nondrug items.

The operation resulted in the seizure of seven sachets of suspected shabu, including the one allegedly sold to the poseur-buyer.

During his arrest, Distura appealed to authorities for leniency, claiming that he was a good person.

However, he declined to comment when approached by members of the media.

Two other individuals found at the scene were also arrested and identified as alias “Jordan,” 21, who had attended college and is a resident of Barangay Cudian, Ivisan, Capiz, and alias “Ian,” 22, of Barangay Ilaya, Ivisan.

The two claimed they were merely passengers of the tricycle driven by Distura when the operation took place.

Authorities reported that no suspected illegal drugs or other incriminating items were recovered from either individual.

Both also declined to comment further when interviewed by reporters.

A fourth individual, identified as alias “Jose,” the father of Distura and owner of the house allegedly being used as a drug den, was arrested after arriving while PDEA operatives were conducting an inventory of the seized items.

According to the operatives, Jose claimed to have a .45-caliber firearm, prompting authorities to take precautionary action.

He was subsequently restrained and handcuffed over allegations of obstruction and grave threats.

Authorities did not immediately disclose whether a firearm was recovered from Jose.

Meanwhile, Barangay Tanque Councilor Berger Ambuayan, chair of the barangay’s peace and order committee, said local officials had long been monitoring suspicious activities at the house.

He said the property had previously come under scrutiny over allegations that it was being used for illegal drug activities.

The latest operation comes less than two months after PDEA operatives raided another suspected drug den in Barangay Tanque on Sept. 15, resulting in the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of 11 sachets of suspected shabu.

Under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, maintaining a place where dangerous drugs are sold or used is a criminal offense.

The law also penalizes the unauthorized sale, possession and use of dangerous drugs, subject to the evidence established against each suspect.

The arrested individuals remain in PDEA custody as authorities prepare appropriate complaints under RA 9165 in connection with the suspected illegal drug activities.

The reported obstruction and grave threats allegations involving Jose are separate from the suspected drug violations.

Authorities have yet to disclose the total weight and estimated value of the seized substances or the specific charges to be filed against each arrested individual.