4 arrested with drugs in Cebu City, Negros Oriental

CEBU, Philippines — Four individuals, including a regional target-listed personality, were arrested in separate anti-drug operations conducted by joint operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 (PDEA-7) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Cebu City and Sibulan, Negros Oriental, a day after the national and local elections.

On the evening of May 13, 2025, operatives from the PDEA-7 Regional Special Enforcement Team, in coordination with the PNP Drug Enforcement Group/Special Operations Unit 7, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) City Drug Enforcement Unit, and CCPO Station 3, conducted a buy-bust operation along Zulueta Street, Barangay Tinago, Cebu City.

The operation led to the arrest of a regional target-listed suspect identified as alias Celso, 46, an on-call construction worker and resident of the area.

PDEA-7 Acting Regional Director Dir. II Alex M. Tablate said the suspect is currently detained at the PDEA-7 detention facility in Cebu City.

Confiscated from the suspect were four packs of suspected shabu weighing approximately 15 grams, with an estimated street value of P102,000, along with buy-bust money and other non-drug-related items. The seized substances are now in the custody of the PDEA-7 Regional Office Laboratory for proper disposition.

Meanwhile, in a separate operation on the same day, a drug den was dismantled in Barangay Poblacion, Sibulan, Negros Oriental. The operation, led by personnel from the PDEA Negros Oriental Provincial Office and the Sibulan Municipal Police Station, resulted in the arrest of three individuals.

The main target, identified as alias Anthony, 31, was apprehended as the alleged drug den maintainer. Two others, identified as alias Louis, 21, a parking attendant, and Jun, 18, jobless, were also arrested as drug den visitors. All three are residents of Sibulan.

Authorities recovered five packs of suspected shabu weighing around 6 grams with an estimated value of P40,800, along with buy-bust money and various drug paraphernalia. The recovered drugs have been turned over to the PNP Negros Oriental Forensic Laboratory for chemical analysis and proper documentation.

Charges for violations of Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against the suspects. – /FPL (FREEMAN)