The Philippine National Police (PNP), under the leadership of Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., Acting PNP Chief, remains committed to the Whole-of-Nation Approach in the government’s fight against illegal drugs, while strengthening its anti-criminality campaign through the Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO), one of the operational pillars of the PNP’s Focused Agenda. In three separate operations conducted on November 3 to 4, 2025, authorities confiscated a total Php260,539,610 worth of illegal drugs, and successfully arrested 13 Most Wanted Persons (MWPs) in their respective regions.
In the joint operation of PNP with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on November 3 in the province of Palawan, operatives recovered approximately 24,003.7 grams of suspected cocaine with an estimated standard drug price of Php127,219,610 along Palawan’s coastline. Authorities secured and turned over the seized cocaine to the PNP’s provincial forensic unit for laboratory examination and proper disposition.
Investigators are still tracing the source and intended recipients of the shipment, which they believed may be tied to transnational narcotics networks using local coastal routes as drop-off points.
PLtGen Nartatez emphasized the importance of intelligence-sharing with domestic and foreign counterparts to track syndicate movements and prevent similar smuggling attempts. He likewise lauded the strong coordination between PNP and PDEA in the campaign against illegal drugs. “Ang tagumpay na ito ay nagpapakita ng mas pinatibay na ugnayan ng ating mga ahensya at ng ating dedikasyon na protektahan ang bawat komunidad laban sa banta ng iligal na droga,” he said.
Following the seizures, including the confiscation of Php19.2 Million worth of marijuana in the waters of Escoda Shoal near the West Philippine Sea, the PNP Maritime Group and regional units were directed to intensify patrols in coastal areas.
Meanwhile, on November 4, two major operations resulted in the confiscation of more than Php133 Million worth of illegal drugs. In Misamis Occidental, a buy-bust operation conducted by PDEA Region 10 together with PNP field units at around 10:35 AM led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of 17 kilograms of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of Php115,600,000. The suspects, ages 19 and 36, both residents of Cagayan de Oro City, were arrested while in possession of large plastic bags of shabu, along with buy-bust money and mobile phones.
In Benguet, personnel of Bakun Municipal Police Station and the 1st Benguet Provincial Mobile Force Company intercepted a vehicle carrying 147.67 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves packed in sacks and tubular containers, valued at approximately Php17,720,000 during a checkpoint operation at around 5:30 AM. The suspects attempted to flee but were eventually arrested in a follow-up operation on the same day.
During the series of anti-criminality operation conducted by various Police Regional Offices, Special Investigation Units, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), authorities arrested several notorious MWPs facing charges such as murder, rape, robbery with homicide, carnapping, acts of lasciviousness, and violations of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Among those apprehended was the Top 1 MWP of PRO9, who was arrested in Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur for a murder case. In Metro Manila, NCRPO operatives also arrested the region’s Top 2 MWP, who is likewise facing murder charges.
In Pampanga, the Top 3 Most Wanted individual was taken into custody by authorities for non-bailable cases of carnapping and robbery with homicide. In Bulacan, operatives served an arrest warrant to the region’s Top 4 MWP for violations of Sections 5 and 11 of RA 9165. Additionally, three individuals listed as Top 7 MWPs in Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Cebu City, were placed under arrest for rape and statutory rape cases.
As of this writing, all arrested suspects remain in police custody for documentation and the filing of appropriate criminal charges.
PLtGen commended all PNP units involved in these successful anti-criminality operations, stating: “Ang mga tagumpay na ito ay patunay ng ating matatag na paninindigan na habulin ang mga kriminal at buwagin ang sindikato ng droga. Hindi titigil ang PNP hangga’t ligtas ang bawat komunidad at napapanagot ang bawat lumalabag sa batas.”
These accomplishments clearly reflect PNP’s relentless determination to arrest criminals and prevent the spread of illegal drugs in our communities. PNP urges the public to fully cooperate by reporting any suspicious activity through nationwide emergency services, including the Unified 911, or by contacting the nearest police station to support ongoing efforts toward justice and community safety.
