Separate anti-illegal drug operations conducted by police in Ilocos Norte on Tuesday, 21 July, resulted in the arrest of one drug suspect in Burgos town, while another suspect escaped during a buy-bust operation in Nueva Era, prompting an ongoing manhunt.

In Nueva Era, personnel of the Nueva Era Municipal Police Station conducted a buy-bust operation at around 7:17 p.m. in Barangay Poblacion targeting a 38-year-old driver known by the alias "Bayyik."

Police said the suspect allegedly sensed that the poseur-buyer was a law enforcement officer during the exchange of the marked money and the suspected illegal drugs. The suspect reportedly resisted arrest before fleeing toward a nearby forested area.

The operating team immediately launched a hot pursuit operation but failed to apprehend the suspect, who remains at large. Authorities said a manhunt operation is ongoing to locate and arrest the fleeing suspect.

Recovered from the operation were one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing approximately 0.2 grams of suspected shabu, believed to have been sold during the transaction, and a motorcycle with a utility sidecar that had no license plate.

The seized items were marked and inventoried at the scene in the presence of the required insulating witnesses. Police are preparing charges for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, against the suspect.

Earlier that day, at around 5:20 p.m., personnel of the Burgos Municipal Police Station, together with the Regional Intelligence Division, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 1, Police Drug Enforcement Unit, and the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office, conducted another buy-bust operation in Barangay Pagali, Burgos.

The operation resulted in the arrest of a 30-year-old utility worker and resident of Barangay Pagali.

Authorities confiscated approximately one gram of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of ₱6,800, contained in three heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets. Also seized were a leather coin purse, the ₱1,000 marked buy-bust money, ₱200 in personal cash, a motorcycle containing two syringes, and a cellular phone.

Police said the inventory and marking of the seized evidence were conducted at the place of arrest in the presence of the suspect and the required insulating witnesses.

Charges for violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 are being prepared for filing against the arrested suspect.