BACOLOD City – As Bacolod City welcomed thousands of spectators to the 46th MassKara Festival, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) intensified its anti-drug operations, resulting in the arrest of three high-value suspects and the seizure of around P2.3 million worth of suspected shabu.
The festival, which kicked off Wednesday night, October 1, drew an estimated 50,000 spectators at the Bacolod City Government Center and 1,500 at the public plaza. Even amid the celebrations, police maintained heightened vigilance to ensure a safe and secure environment for festival-goers.
On Wednesday evening, alias “Anthony,” 35, was intercepted by the Bacolod City Mobile Force Company during a checkpoint along San Juan Street, Barangay 6, while driving a motorcycle without side mirrors and a helmet. Authorities recovered 220 grams of suspected shabu valued at P1.496 million and cash amounting to P35,370.
Police said Anthony is on the city’s drugs watchlist, has prior arrests, and is suspected in previous shooting incidents.
Earlier that evening, around 6 p.m., alias “Bebe,” 44, was arrested in a buy-bust operation by the BCPO’s City Drug Enforcement Unit along St. Therese Street, Gonzaga Extension, Barangay Taculing. Police confiscated 70 grams of suspected shabu worth P476,000.
In a related operation on Tuesday, September 30, alias “Reymar,” 18, was arrested during a sting in Purok Rosas Pandan, Barangay Banago, yielding 50 grams of suspected shabu valued at P340,000.
Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay, regional director of the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) and commander of Task Group MassKara, commended the BCPO for their swift action.
“Neutralizing high-value targets is crucial in preventing illegal drugs from infiltrating communities, particularly during major public events like the MassKara Festival,” he said. “These operations underscore our unwavering commitment to safeguard the public, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that the MassKara celebration remains safe, secure, and drug-free.”/PN
