Operatives from the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) successfully apprehended six individuals, one of them a minor, during a targeted anti-drug operation in Negros Occidental. The sting took place on January 14, 2026, at Hacienda Bato in Barangay Nanca, E.B. Magalona.
Details of the Arrest and Seized Evidence
According to Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, chief of the PRO-NIR Public Information Office, the arrest was made by personnel from the E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station. The operation was launched after one of the suspects sold a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover police officer.
Authorities confiscated significant evidence from the group. The haul included several sachets of shabu with a total weight of 140 grams. Police estimate the street value of the confiscated illegal drugs at approximately P952,000. Additionally, law enforcement recovered the marked money used in the transaction and two motorcycles.
Suspects and Police Intelligence Operation
The police have identified the adult suspects through their aliases:
- Ron, 43, a resident of Barangay Nanca, E.B. Magalona.
- Jen, 25, from Hacienda Banilad 3, Barangay Nanca, E.B. Magalona.
- Jol, 33, a resident of Barangay 13, Victorias City.
- Wel, 36, from Barangay E. Lopez, Silay City.
- John, 22, a resident of Hacienda Esperanza, Barangay Nanca, E.B. Magalona.
A 17-year-old boy from Silay City was also taken into custody. Lt. Col. Malong stated that alias Ron is classified as a high-value individual in the local drug trade, while his four adult companions are considered street-level drug personalities.
The operation was the result of a meticulous, intelligence-driven campaign. PRO-NIR intelligence operatives, in close coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), acted on received information about ongoing drug sales in the area. Through casing, surveillance, and the assistance of a confidential informant, they were able to validate the report and schedule a transaction, leading to the enforcement action.
Aftermath and Ongoing Campaign
Following the bust, the five adult suspects are currently detained at the custodial facility of the E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station. The minor, in accordance with the law, has been placed under the protective custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Lt. Col. Malong emphasized that this operation reflects PRO-NIR's relentless drive to dismantle drug networks and neutralize key personalities. She underscored the police force's unwavering commitment to protecting communities from the scourge of illegal drugs.
"PRO-NIR continues to stand firm and relentless in its campaign against illegal drugs, making it clear that there is no safe haven for drug offenders in the Negros Island Region," Malong asserted. She added that through intelligence-driven operations and decisive action, the police remain dedicated to tracking down and holding accountable those who threaten community peace and security.
