PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Authorities recovered another batch of illegal drugs, this time amounting to P2.2 million worth of cocaine, in the province of Palawan, police officials reported Sunday.

Brig. Gen. Jovencio S. Badua Jr., regional director of Police Regional Office MIMAROPA, said a fisherman reported the discovery of the suspected drugs to Police Station 3, prompting police personnel and the 1st Platoon, CMFC Napsan Base, to respond to the area.

Upon arrival at the seashore of Purok Mangingisda, Barangay Bagong Bayan, the responding officers met with two fishermen who had found the suspected cocaine along the shoreline. The fishermen turned over a transparent plastic container containing approximately 430 grams of white powdery substance, believed to be cocaine, with an estimated market value of ₱2,279,000.

Gen. Badua said the seized substance will be turned over to the Puerto Princesa City Forensic Unit (PPCFU) for laboratory examination and confirmation.

The recovery follows a series of recent drug discoveries in the province. On September 30, authorities retrieved 34 packages of cocaine worth ₱68 million, initially turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) after coordination with the Western Command (WesCom).

Another 34 packages were later surrendered to authorities in coordination with the Palawan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) and the Provincial Intelligence Unit.

Both the PDEA and the PNP are investigating the possibility of a new drug smuggling route emerging through Palawan’s coastal waters — a concern raised by Gen. Badua following the successive discoveries.

“This is the first time that suspected cocaine has been discovered in this part of Palawan,” he said, ordering a thorough investigation into the incidents to prevent the province from becoming a transit point for narcotics trafficking.