By Jason De Asis
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) seized PHP1.2 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested six suspects in a series of anti-crime operations across Bulacan, Pampanga, and Angeles City.
The operations, conducted between Feb. 26 to 27, 2025, are part of PRO3’s intensified efforts to curb illegal drug activities and ensure public safety.
Bulacan
In Brgy. Pulong Buhangin, Santa Maria, Bulacan, a joint operation led by the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) of the Santa Maria Municipal Police Station (MPS), with support from the Bulacan Police Intelligence Unit (PIU), Bulacan PIT East, Regional Intelligence Unit 3 (RIU3), and PDEA Bulacan, resulted in the arrest of two suspects.
The suspects, identified as alias “Mang Jess,” a 59-year-old painter from Albay, and alias “Bunso,” a 27-year-old painter from Santa Maria, Bulacan, were found in possession of around 128 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP870,400, along with drug paraphernalia.
Both suspects are now in custody at the Santa Maria MPS for documentation and legal proceedings.
Angeles City
At around 2:15 a.m. on Feb. 27, a Comelec checkpoint operation along Filam Friendship Highway in Brgy. Cutcut, Angeles City, led to the arrest of alias “Gio,” who was riding a red Honda TMX 155 motorcycle. The suspect failed to present a valid driver’s license and vehicle registration.
During inspection, officers noticed a handgun grip protruding from his belt bag and seized one caliber .38 revolver (without a serial number), eight live rounds of ammunition, eight medium-sized sachets of suspected shabu weighing 40 grams (PHP196,448 street value), and one black belt bag.
Pampanga
Meanwhile, in Brgy. Sto. Niño, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, intelligence operatives from the City of San Fernando Police Station (CSFPS) SDEU conducted a buy-bust operation, resulting in the arrest of three individuals: alias “Jamen,” a 37-year-old Joyride driver from Rodriguez, Rizal; alias “Kulot,” a resident of San Fernando, Pampanga; and alias “Abdul,” a 37-year-old security guard from Quezon City.
Seized items included 25 grams of suspected shabu (PHP170,000 estimated value), one Caspian .45 caliber pistol (without a serial number), and seven live rounds of ammunition.
Police Brig. General Jean Fajardo, PRO3 regional director, commended the efforts of law enforcement agencies and reaffirmed the PNP’s commitment to eliminating illegal drugs and firearms from Central Luzon.
“These operations are clear proof of our relentless campaign to protect our communities from the threats posed by criminal elements,” Fajardo said. (PNA)
