More than P44-million worth of suspected shabu was seized in Panabo City, Davao del Norte on Saturday morning, coinciding with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit in the province for a series of activities.
Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) reported that a joint anti-illegal drugs operation was conducted at Oakwood Residence Purok 2, Barangay New Visayas, Panabo City, which resulted in the arrest of two of the region’s top high-value individuals and the confiscation of 6.537 kilograms of suspected shabu worth P44,451,600.00.
The operation was led by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 11, together with personnel from the Regional Intelligence Division PRO 11, City Special Operations Group/City Drug Enforcement Unit, Panabo City Police Station, 2nd Davao Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company (2nd DNPMFC), Provincial Intelligence Unit-DNPPO, and Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The suspects were considered regional-level top 1 and regional-level top 3 drug personalities listed in the regional priority 10 High-Value Individual (HVI).
Also confiscated during the operation were one genuine P1,000 bill, 199 pieces machine printed P1,000 bill, 200 pieces machine printed P500 bill, one smartphone, one weighing scale, and one gray plastic container.
The suspects are now under the custody of the PNP DavNor Panabo while charges in violation of Republic Act No. 9165 is being prepared against them.
PRO 11 Director Brigadier General Leon Victor Rosete warned all drug peddlers that PRO 11 will not tolerate those who destroy lives for their own gain.
“We will not waver in our fight against illegal drugs. We will be relentless in our pursuit of those who threaten the safety and the future of the people in the community, especially in Davao Region,” he said.
According to Rosete, this development is in line with the PNP Chief Police General Rommel Marbil’s strategic framework and his pledge, emphasizing the significance of a rights-based and non-violent approach in the PNP’s anti-drug campaign.
