Authorities arrested two construction workers during a buy-bust operation in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte on Saturday, 27 June, while a separate operation in Paoay later the same day led to the arrest of a man wanted for statutory rape.

Police said the anti-illegal drug operation was conducted from 12:19 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. by the Pasuquin Municipal Police Station, with support from the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 1, the Philippine National Police Intelligence Team in Ilocos Norte, the Provincial Intelligence Unit, the Regional Intelligence Division of Ilocos Norte and PRO1, and the 1st Ilocos Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company.

The operation resulted in the arrest of two male suspects, aged 44 and 46. Both are construction workers. One is a resident of Laoag City, while the other is a native of Lallo, Cagayan who was temporarily residing in Pasuquin.

Seized from the suspects were six heat-sealed plastic sachets containing approximately 0.99 gram of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of ₱6,732. Authorities also recovered the marked ₱1,000 buy-bust money, two caliber .45 live rounds of ammunition, an Oppo A54 mobile phone, a wallet containing 11 identification cards, cash amounting to ₱310, an Israeli banknote, a US dollar bill, a pouch, cigarette packs, lighters, and other items.

Police said the seized evidence was marked and inventoried at the scene in the presence of the suspects and the mandatory witnesses as required by law.

Meanwhile, at around 6:15 p.m., members of the Tracker Team of the 2nd Ilocos Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company, together with the Marcos Municipal Police Station, arrested a 30-year-old construction worker from Limay, Bataan in Paoay.

The suspect was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for statutory rape under Article 266-A(1)(D) of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Acts 8353 and 11648. The warrant, issued under Criminal Case No. ML-1593, carries no recommended bail.

The accused is now under the custody of the 2nd Ilocos Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company pending further legal proceedings.