Back-to-back buy-bust operations in Mabalacat City, Pampanga and Santa Maria, Bulacan on January 30–31, 2026 lead to the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of over Php900,000 worth of suspected shabu by PRO3 and PDEA operatives. (Jason de Asis)
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) reported consecutive gains in its intensified campaign against illegal drugs with the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of more than Php900,000 worth of suspected shabu in separate buy-bust operations in Pampanga and Bulacan from January 30 to 31, 2026.
In Mabalacat City, Pampanga, joint operatives of the Mabalacat City Police Station’s Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 3 arrested two suspects identified by their aliases “Popo” and “Tomboy” at around 2:29 a.m. on January 31 along Hill Street, Dau Homesite.
Authorities confiscated approximately 57 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of Php387,600.
In a separate operation in Barangay Caypombo, Santa Maria, Bulacan, elements of the Santa Maria Municipal Police Station-SDEU, supported by the Bulacan Provincial Intelligence Unit, Regional Intelligence Unit 3, and PDEA Bulacan, arrested two more suspects known by the aliases “Ron” and “Jay” at around 9:39 p.m. on January 30.
Seized from the suspects were about 77 grams of suspected shabu valued at Php523,600, along with marked money used in the operation.
PRO3 Regional Director Police Brigadier General Ponce Rogelio I. Peñones Jr. said the successful operations align with the Philippine National Police’s Focused Agenda and the organization’s guiding principles of Protecting the People, Pursuing Peace and Order, and Promoting Professionalism.
“Our priority is to protect the people. Through sustained, intelligence-driven, and lawful operations, we pursue peace and order while ensuring professionalism and accountability in every action we take,” Peñones said.
The arrested suspects are now under police custody and will face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (Jason de Asis)