By Nef Luczon

SEIZED NARCOTICS. An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) documents the confiscated illegal drug items at one of the residences they served with search warrants in Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental, on Monday (Sept. 15, 2025). One of the three suspects arrested during the PDEA operations is a municipal councilor. (Photo courtesy of Kerwin Ranoa)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) separately arrested three individuals, including a Misamis Oriental municipal councilor, on Monday over alleged possession of illegal drugs.

Serving three search warrants on three locations, PDEA identified one of the suspects as Shalako Uba, 49, one of the municipal councilors of Magsaysay town, during a raid in Barangay Candiis.

Uba denied involvement in any illegal drug trade.

The two others arrested in other locations in Magsaysay were a son of a barangay chairman who was arrested in Barangay Kibungsod, and another suspect in Barangay Artadi.

The suspect in Barangay Kibungsod was also considered a regional target by both PDEA and the Police Regional Office (PRO) 10 (Northern Mindanao), who operates in nearby regions and provinces.

PDEA-Misamis Oriental agents seized an estimated 100 grams of “shabu” after searching for the suspects’ respective residences.

Expedito Cardona, PDEA Misamis Oriental’s lead agent in the operations, said they are almost reaching the target of making Misamis Oriental clear of drugs with these arrests.

“Magsaysay is the last municipality, and this is to prove that we can go to the farthest borders to clear communities of illegal drugs,” he said.

Meanwhile, PRO-10’s teams also arrested 20 suspects and seized illegal drugs worth PHP1.4 million from Sept. 13 to 14.

A total of 19 operations were conducted during the period as part of PRO-10’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, confiscating approximately 207.345 grams of “shabu.” (PNA)