PDEA 12 agents arrest shabu dealers, shut down drug den

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February 23, 2026 | 7:27pm

COTABATO CITY— An employee of a water utility, along with two drug den operators and their guest, were arrested by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 12 (PDEA 12) in separate entrapment operations in two cities in Central Mindanao on Friday, February 20.

The first arrest in the two operations involved a 50-year-old male employee of the Kidapawan City Water District (KCWD), which serves 40 barangays in Kidapawan City, the capital of Cotabato province.

The suspect was immediately arrested by PDEA 12 agents and plainclothes policemen from various units of Police Regional Office 12 after selling 10.1 grams of shabu, worth P68,680, in Purok 3B, Bartolaba Subdivision, Barangay Lanao, Kidapawan City.

Barangay officials in Kidapawan City told reporters on Sunday, February 22, that the suspect used his position as a KCWD employee to cover his shabu and marijuana selling activities.

Charlene Magdurulang, director of PDEA 12, said the entrapment operation that led to the suspect’s arrest was based on tips from his co-workers at KCWD and neighbors regarding his distribution of shabu to contacts in Kidapawan City.

Magdurulang added that a 33-year-old drug den operator, his 21-year-old female cohort, and a buyer of their illegal merchandise were arrested by PDEA 12 agents in a separate entrapment operation last Friday in Purok G-Morillo, Barangay Sta. Cruz, Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

The duo was immediately frisked and handcuffed after selling P74,800 worth of shabu to PDEA 12 agents and operatives from the Koronadal City Police Station and the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office, right inside their drug den in Purok G-Morillo, Barangay Sta. Cruz. A woman, who was reportedly about to have a pot session with them, was also present during the arrest.

Magdurulang said they are grateful to barangay officials and to South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. for their extensive support in the operation that led to the arrest of the two drug den operators and a buyer of their illegal merchandise.

Ranking PDEA 12 agents and officials from PRO 12, including their regional director, Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Ardiente, told reporters on Sunday that Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, presiding chairperson of the multi-sector Regional Peace and Order Council 12, played a key role in shutting down more than 20 drug dens across various towns in South Cotabato and in its capital, Koronadal City, since 2022.