In a significant blow to the drug trade, law enforcement agencies successfully apprehended a high-priority target in a joint buy-bust operation carried out in Calamba, Misamis Occidental. The operation, which took place on August 23, 2023, at around 8:14 PM, resulted in the arrest of Roim Inocencio Pagalaran, a 45-year-old male resident of Brgy Bunawan, Calamba.
Pagalaran, who was a Job Order Employee at the Calamba District Hospital and held the ninth spot on the PNP Regional Priority List of High-Value Individuals (HVI), was taken into custody during the meticulously planned operation. Participating units included the PDEU (Lead Unit), MOCPPO, PIU, MOCPPO, PDEA-Misamis Occidental, and Calamba MPS, all collaborating to execute PDEA Pre-Operational Report #30002-082023-0366.
The suspect was caught red-handed after he allegedly sold a small-sized, square-shaped transparent plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu. Subsequent searches of Pagalaran’s possession led to the discovery of seven more small-sized square sachets believed to contain shabu. Alongside the illegal substances, law enforcement also recovered assorted items including aluminum rolled strip foil, rolled aluminum paper, rolled paper sealed with scratch tape, an Oppo Android phone, a pack of Winston cigarettes, and various denominations of cash.
The confiscated items totaled an estimated 3 grams of the suspected illegal substance, with an approximate street value of 20,400.00 pesos. Importantly, the suspect was informed of his Constitutional Rights during the operation, which included a body search and inventory conducted in the presence of two elected Barangay officials and a media representative.
Following his apprehension, Pagalaran was transported to the Calamba MPS for processing and proper disposition. The successful joint operation highlights the ongoing efforts of various law enforcement agencies to combat the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region. This arrest serves as a reminder of the commitment to maintaining public safety and upholding the rule of law against individuals involved in illicit activities.
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