Major Drug Bust in Iloilo: P1.3 Million Worth of Shabu Seized, Three High-Value Suspects Apprehended
In a significant crackdown on illegal narcotics, police operatives in Iloilo Province have successfully conducted a series of coordinated anti-drug operations, resulting in the arrest of three high-value individuals and the confiscation of approximately 196 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P1,332,800. The operations, which took place from February 12 to February 13, 2026, targeted key locations across the municipalities of Tigbauan, Balasan, and Barotac Viejo, marking a substantial blow to local drug networks.
Detailed Breakdown of the Operations and Seizures
The largest seizure occurred in Tigbauan, where a joint effort by the Tigbauan Municipal Police Station, the 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group led to the arrest of an individual known as alias Francis. This high-value suspect was apprehended during a buy-bust operation at approximately 3:30 p.m. on February 12, 2026, in Barangay 8, Poblacion, Tigbauan. Authorities recovered about 75 grams of shabu valued at P510,000 and a break-type homemade caliber .22 pistol, prompting additional legal charges under Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
In Balasan, another operation unfolded around 8 p.m. on February 12, 2026, in Barangay Camambugan. The Balasan Municipal Police Station, in collaboration with the 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, arrested alias Dol, an active Barangay tanod who was listed as a high-value individual. From this suspect, police confiscated approximately 66 grams of shabu with a standard drug price of P448,800.
Meanwhile, in Barotac Viejo, a third operation was carried out at about 1:45 a.m. on February 13, 2026, in Sitio Lumboy, Barangay San Roque. This led to the arrest of alias Nonoy Lito, a 43-year-old high-value suspect, with authorities seizing around 55 grams of shabu worth P374,000. All three individuals are currently under police custody and will face charges for violations of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, with the Tigbauan suspect also facing charges related to the firearm seizure.
Police Response and Ongoing Efforts
These operations are part of the intensified campaign by the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6) and the Iloilo Police Provincial Office to curb illegal drug activities in the province. Police Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, the regional director of PRO 6, commended the operating units for their dedication and success, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in reporting suspicious activities to support the government's anti-illegal drug campaign.
The confiscated suspected shabu will undergo qualitative and quantitative examination at the crime laboratory, while documentation and case filing are being prepared against the arrested individuals. Authorities highlighted that the coordinated actions of municipal police stations and provincial mobile force units aim to dismantle drug networks and prevent the distribution of illegal drugs across communities in Iloilo Province, reinforcing their commitment to a drug-free Western Visayas.
