SLT 1250
February 3-9, 2024
SOUTHERN LEYTE – In January 2023, the province of Southern Leyte was declared as drug cleared, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) report. However, this status was short-lived as illegal drugs were seized after series of illegal drug “buy-bust” operations during the year, one of which resulted to the arrest of a high value drug pusher with P9Million worth of suspected shabu.
The following year on the evening of January 23, 2024 two separate “buy-bust” operations were executed in barangays Tagnipa and Ibarra, Maasin City. A 35-year-old single and unemployed individual was arrested in Barangay Tagnipa after the authorities found allegedly in his possession four transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu and some cash. An hour later at Barangay Ibarra another suspect, a 32-year old driver, was apprehended after a poseur buyer successfully purchased one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu for P1,000. Confiscated from the suspect’s possession were nine heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a similar substance in different sizes.
On January 31, 2024 at around five in the morning, the Maasin City Police Station, PIT Southern Leyte-RIU8, with PDEA8-Southern Leyte Provincial Office, LPO, and SIU-Leyte conducted a “buy-bust” operation in Barangay Manhilo, Maasin City, Southern Leyte. Arrested was a resident of the said barangay.
Confiscated from the suspect were fourteen sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of Php340,500.00 and various drug paraphernalia.
The suspects will be facing cases in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
As of January 2024, the Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office (SLPPO) has already executed 6 buy-bust operations, according to police report.
Meanwhile, SLPPO Police Colonel Hector F. Enage expressed the intention to further intensify anti-drug operations throughout the entire province in the coming months. “The goal is not only to increase the frequency of buy-bust operations but also to implement strategic measures aimed at eradicating the drug trade at its roots.”
The provincial police office is also rallying the residents to actively participate in efforts to eliminate the drug menace to help secure a drug-free province.
