By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur— Authorities arrested 10 individuals, including a key suspect known as “Alias Intsik,” during a late-night operation on April 13, 2026, at around 11:20 p.m. at Panatao Port in Barangay Panatao, Claver, Surigao del Norte.
The operation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Surigao del Norte Provincial Field Unit (PFU), in collaboration with Regional Maritime Unit 13, the Maritime Law Enforcement Team, and the Claver Municipal Police Station. The operation was part of the CIDG’s Oplan Ligas campaign against illegal activities.
Lt. Col. Darwin Dura, chief of the CIDG in Surigao del Norte, said authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the source of the illegally transported fuel products, hinting that these may have come from one of the province’s islands.
“I cannot yet disclose the origin of the illegal products as the investigation is still ongoing,” Dura said in a phone interview. He added that authorities had monitored the movements of the main suspect for a week before carrying out the operation.
Authorities said the group was apprehended while illegally transporting petroleum products without proper documents. The suspects were caught transferring diesel fuel from a motorized banca, known locally as a “bote-bote,” into a tanker truck at the port. The fuel, which was reportedly intended for distribution to nearby gasoline stations, lacked any legal documentation.
Authorities seized 20 drums of diesel fuel, 30 empty drums, two water pumps, a hose, the motorized banca, and a tanker truck, with an estimated total value of P5.62 million.
The suspects were informed of their rights under the Anti-Torture Law before being transported to the CIDG office. Authorities are preparing to file charges against them for violating Presidential Decree No. 1865, which regulates the handling of petroleum products.
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