BACOLOD City — Two high-value individuals (HVIs) were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in Bacolod City, with police confiscating a combined estimated 130 grams of suspected shabu worth about P930,000.
The operations were conducted as authorities intensified security and crime-prevention measures ahead of the MassKara Festival.
The first operation on October 2 led to the arrest of alias “Mak,” 48, married, unemployed, and a resident of Purok Tunay, Barangay Bata.
Personnel of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) City Drug Enforcement Unit, with support from the Criminal Investigation Unit and Police Station 3, conducted the operation based on information provided by a confidential informant.
Police said the information underwent two weeks of casing, surveillance and validation before the operation was conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Recovered from Mak were one buy-bust sachet, five possession sachets and one knot-tied plastic bag containing suspected shabu, with a combined estimated weight of 80 grams and a reported standard drug price of P590,000.
The seized drug evidence was submitted to the Northern Negros Police Provincial Office Crime Laboratory for examination.
Mak remains in the custody of Police Station 3 and is set to face charges for alleged violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, covering the sale and possession of dangerous drugs.
Meanwhile, a separate operation was conducted by personnel of Police Station 1 at about 1 a.m. on October 5 in Barangay 39.
The operation, led by Police Major Eugene G. Tolentino, resulted in the arrest of alias “Jerick,” 33, single, unemployed, and a resident of Barangay Cabug.
Police identified Jerick as an HVI who was not listed in the records of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
Recovered from him were one sachet of suspected shabu used as the buy-bust item, one knot-tied transparent plastic bag, seven large sachets containing suspected shabu, a black pouch, and the P1,000 marked money.
The seized drugs had an estimated weight of 50 grams and a reported street value of P340,000.
Jerick is now in police custody and is facing charges for alleged violation of RA 9165.
Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region Director Brig. Gen. Rudecindo L. Reales said the arrests were part of intensified crime-prevention and intelligence operations in Bacolod, particularly as the city prepares to host the MassKara Festival.
“This arrest shows that our crime-prevention efforts are active and focused, particularly as Bacolod City welcomes the MassKara Festival,” Reales said.
He added that police are strengthening intelligence gathering, increasing police presence and acting on validated information involving activities that threaten public safety.
The two operations underscore the continuing anti-drug campaign of the PRO-NIR and BCPO amid heightened security measures for the festival, with authorities vowing to sustain coordinated and intelligence-driven enforcement operations./PN
