TACLOBAN CITY – A barangay chairman and two companions were arrested in a buy-bust operation on Bypass Road, Barangay San Jose, Palo, Leyte, on Tuesday.
Police identified the suspects as barangay chairman Mario, 35, Rank 1 Regional Priority Target Listed (RPTL) High-Value Individual (HVI); and Jessa, 34, and Josh, 18, all are residents of Leyte, Leyte.
Recovered from them were seven heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu weighing 805 grams and a Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P5,474,000.
Police Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy, PRO-8 director, lauded operating units for the successful operation.
"The arrest of the region's Rank 1 HVI is a major accomplishment in our anti-illegal drug campaign. We will continue conducting intelligence-driven operations and strengthening partnerships to keep Eastern Visayas safe and drug-free," he said.
He encouraged the public to stay vigilant and support law enforcement by reporting illegal drug activities in their communities to help maintain peace, order, and public safety across the region.