The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has struck another decisive blow against the illegal drug trade in Metro Manila, reaffirming its strong commitment to swift and responsive policing. In two separate buy-bust operations conducted in Parañaque City and Taguig City, nine suspects including several tagged as High-Value Individuals (HVIs) were arrested, while nearly Php4.8 Million worth of illegal drugs were taken off the streets.
The most recent operation unfolded at dawn on August 19, 2025, when members of the Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) of the Parañaque City Police Station, under the supervision of Police Colonel Nicolas S. Piñon, Officer-in-Charge, launched a buy-bust operation inside a condominium unit at Pacific Coast Plaza in Barangay Tambo. Acting on the directives of Chief PNP, Police General Nicolas D. Torre III, and NCRPO Regional Director, Police Major General Anthony A. Aberin, the team arrested five suspects and confiscated a significant cache of illegal drugs.
Among the seized items were 200 grams of suspected ketamine worth Php1.1 Million, one kilogram of marijuana kush valued at Php700,000, half a kilo of dried marijuana leaves amounting to Php60,000, and 791 tablets of suspected ecstasy with an estimated street value of Php1.34 Million, with the total haul amounted to Php3,107,804. Authorities also recovered buy-bust money, a weighing scale, drug paraphernalia, and a mobile phone used in the transaction. As of this writing, the arrested individuals are under police custody and will face charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Just a week earlier, a similar operation in Taguig City also yielded significant results. At around 9:50 PM on August 12, 2025, operatives from the District Drug Enforcement Unit (DDEU) of the Southern Police District (SPD), led by Police Major Cecilio G. Tomas Jr., with support from Sub-Station 6 of Taguig City Police Station, carried out a buy-bust operation in Barangay South Signal under the supervision of PBGen Randy Y. Arceo, Acting District Director of SPD.
The coordinated effort led to the arrest of four High-Value Individuals (HVIs), three men in their 40s and a 21-year-old woman who were recently identified as active players in the illegal drug trade. Seized from them were around 250 grams of suspected shabu valued at Php1.7 Million, along with buy-bust money, a cellphone believed to be used in drug deals, and a red Mazda 2 vehicle. The evidence was immediately inventoried in accordance with chain-of-custody procedures, and charges under RA 9165 are being prepared against the suspects.
NCRPO Regional Director PMGen Anthony A. Aberin commended the operating units for their precision and diligence, underscoring that these accomplishments reflect NCRPO’s continuing commitment to secure the communities of Metro Manila.
“Walang lugar sa NCR para sa mga grupong sumisira sa ating lipunan sa pamamagitan ng ipinagbabawal na gamot. Ang matagumpay na pagdakip sa mga High-Value Individuals ay malinaw na patunay ng walang humpay na kampanya [natin] laban sa illegal na droga. Patuloy at matatag ang kapulisan ng NCRPO sa misyon nitong protektahan ang buhay, ipatupad ang batas, at tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng bawat komunidad sa Metro Manila,” he said.
Beyond anti-drug operations, NCRPO continues to strengthen its 911 Emergency Hotline and 5-Minute Response Program, a key component of the Swift and Responsive Police Service Pillar. With these initiatives, Metro Manila residents are assured that police assistance is just one call away, and that emergency responses will be carried out with speed, precision, and accountability.
These back-to-back operations and community-based programs demonstrate PNP’s strong resolve to fight criminality on all fronts, with one clear message: the police are working tirelessly not only to dismantle drug networks but also to ensure that help reaches the public as quickly as possible.
