Authorities in Lanao del Norte scored a significant victory in the war against illegal drugs with the arrest of a high-value target and the seizure of narcotics and a firearm.
Buy-Bust Operation Nets Top Suspect
In a targeted buy-bust operation on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, law enforcement agents apprehended a suspect known by the alias Loloy, 35. The operation was conducted around 8 p.m. in Purok 2, Pange village, Baroy, Lanao del Norte.
Police Colonel Leo De Leon Sua, the provincial police director, stated that the suspect is classified as a regional-level Top 6 High-Value Individual (HVI). His arrest followed a successful transaction where an undercover officer purchased a sachet of suspected shabu worth P200.
Significant Contraband Recovered
The operation yielded a substantial haul of illegal items confiscated from the suspect. The seized evidence includes:
- Approximately 30 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P204,000.
- A caliber .38 revolver along with its ammunition.
- The P200 marked money used in the buy-bust.
- Various pieces of illegal drug paraphernalia.
Legal Proceedings Underway
Police Colonel Sua confirmed that the suspect is now under the custody of the Baroy Municipal Police Station for documentation and further legal processing. The Philippine National Police (PNP) is preparing to file formal charges against the individual.
The charges will be for violations of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. This arrest underscores the continued efforts of law enforcement agencies across the Philippines to combat the proliferation of illegal drugs and unregistered firearms.
