BY: VANESSA BUGTONG

Authorities confiscated more than 1 billion pesos worth of shabu during a search operation in Angeles City, Pampanga on May 26.

Operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region III, PDEA-NCR, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) raided a rented home on Orchid Street in Timog Hills Subdivision, Barangay Pampang.

Inside, they found 155 transparent plastic bags containing shabu, all sealed and packed for distribution.

A Chinese national who rented the house is now being hunted by authorities.

He will face charges for violating the Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

In Isabela province, authorities raided two drug dens over the weekend.

On May 25, a buy-bust operation in Barangay San Gabriel, Tuguegarao City led to the arrest of three suspects.

Authorities recovered one gram of shabu and 70 grams of dried marijuana leaves valued at 17,000 pesos.

The money used in the drug transaction was also seized.

The next day, a second raid was carried out in Purok 3, Barangay Sinamar Sur, San Mateo.

Three high-value targets were arrested, and 11 sachets containing 10 grams of shabu worth 68,000 pesos were confiscated.

All suspects will face charges under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Authorities from the Police Regional Office Cordillera destroyed an estimated 200,000 pesos worth of marijuana in Kibungan, Benguet on May 26.

A 200-square-meter marijuana plantation with over 1,000 plants was discovered and burned.

“There were no cultivators arrested because from a distance, they already know when our troops are approaching,” said PRO-COR Regional Director PBGen. David Peredo. “Usually, the ones we catch are those stopped at checkpoints.”

Peredo assured that operations will continue to hunt down cultivators and eradicate marijuana farms in the region.