A 36-year-old man's Christmas celebration was cut short after he was arrested in a police buy-bust operation in Talisay City, Cebu. The suspect was apprehended with a substantial amount of suspected shabu valued at over two million pesos.
Christmas Day Operation Nets Major Suspect
The arrest took place at 2:25 PM on Thursday, December 25, 2025, in Sitio Gawad Kalinga, Barangay Lawaan 2, Talisay City. Operatives from the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of the Cebu Police Provincial Office conducted the sting operation.
The suspect has been identified as Louie Ortiz Bayugan, alias "Taloy,", aged 36 and a resident of Sitio Rose Ville, Barangay Lawaan 1 in the same city. Authorities confiscated from him several large packs of the suspected illegal drug.
Massive Drug Haul and Confession
The seized substance, believed to be shabu, weighed approximately 315 grams. Based on the standard drug price, the contraband carries an estimated street value of P2.1 million.
During the PIU's investigation, it was revealed that Bayugan was a known drug peddler in the area and had been under police surveillance for several weeks. Police intelligence indicated that the suspect had received a large supply of drugs, likely intended for the holiday season's festivities, which prompted the immediate buy-bust action.
Weekly Drug Trade and Source Revealed
The suspect confessed to authorities about the scale of his illegal activities. Bayugan admitted that he could sell between 300 to 500 grams of shabu every week supplied by his source. He further stated that during the Christmas and New Year season, his volume of sales would increase even further.
According to his statement, the illegal drugs were sourced from the Abuyog Penal Farm and were simply sent to him for distribution.
Police have prepared charges for violations of Section 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, against the suspect. He is now detained while the case is being processed.
