The intensified campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP) against illegal drugs continues to gain ground in Central Visayas as back-to-back operations in Mandaue City led to the arrest of major drug personalities and the confiscation of shabu worth over Php44.2 Million.
On August 1, 2025, authorities seized four kilograms of suspected shabu, with an estimated standard value of Php27.2 Million, in a buy-bust operation conducted along Mantawi drive in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City. The operation resulted in the arrest of alias “Siwsiw,” a 54-year-old alleged big-time drug lord, and his 47-year-old female cohort, “Judith.”
The successful operation was made possible through the joint efforts of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) and City Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Mandaue City Police Office, in coordination with the Regional Intelligence Division 7 (RID7), Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit and Regional Special Project Unit (RPDEU-RSPU), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Group Visayas Field Unit (PDEG7), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 7 Special Enforcement Team (PDEA RO7-RSET).
Investigations revealed that “Siwsiw” was previously arrested in Dumaguete City in 2015 for illegal drugs and released in 2022, but he allegedly returned to drug trading. Reports indicate that he had been operating distribution points across Mandaue, Minglanilla, and other parts of Cebu Province. Authorities are now working to identify his main supplier and dismantle his wider network.
Just a week later, on August 9, 2025, another major drug bust took place in Sitio Uniwide, Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City. Police arrested alias “Cali,” a regional-level drug personality, during a buy-bust operation that led to the confiscation of 2.5 kilograms of suspected shabu worth Php17 Million. The seized items were turned over to the Regional Forensic Unit 7 for laboratory testing, while the suspect, is currently detained at Police Station 6, Mandaue City Police Office, awaiting formal charges as of this writing.
The successive buy-bust operations were made possible through the combined efforts of various police units and PDEA, underscoring the strong inter-agency coordination in the fight against illegal drugs.
Police Brigadier General Redrico A. Maranan, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 7 (PRO 7), emphasized that freedom is a chance for reform, not a license to return to crime. He stressed that those who waste this opportunity and continue to engage in illegal activities, especially drug trade, will face the full force of the law.
These accomplishments are a testament of PRO7’s firm commitment to dismantle drug networks in Central Visayas, further intensifying PNP’s campaign against illegal drugs nationwide. With the continued support of local government units, partner agencies, and the community, PNP vows to sustain its campaign while upholding the rule of law and protecting human rights—moving closer to a safer and drug-free Bagong Pilipinas.
