Three individuals listed as high-value drug personalities were arrested during a joint anti-illegal drugs operation conducted by the Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) in Barangay Alibagu, City of Ilagan, Isabela, on Sunday.

The suspects were identified only by their aliases: "Popong," 57, a tricycle driver from Barangay Alibagu, Ilagan City; "Juan," 33, a construction worker from Barangay Banquero, Reina Mercedes, Isabela; and "Ruben," 41, an unemployed resident of Barangay Bliss Village, Ilagan City. Authorities said all three were classified as High-Value Individuals (HVIs) in the government's illegal drugs watchlist.

According to PRO2, the buy-bust operation was carried out at around 6:55 p.m. by operatives from the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Ilagan City Component Police Station, in coordination with personnel from the PDEA Regional Office 2–Isabela Provincial Office and the PDEG Special Operations Unit 2.

Police said the suspects were arrested after allegedly selling two heat-sealed plastic sachets containing about 0.5 gram of suspected shabu to a PDEA operative acting as a poseur-buyer in exchange for a marked ₱1,000 bill.

A subsequent search led to the seizure of approximately 13.7 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of ₱93,160. The confiscated items included the buy-bust evidence and additional sachets of suspected illegal drugs.

Authorities also recovered drug paraphernalia, the marked buy-bust money, ₱11,805 in cash, and other items believed to be connected to illegal drug activities.

PRO2 said the seized evidence was immediately marked, photographed, and inventoried at the scene in accordance with the chain of custody procedures prescribed under Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The inventory was conducted in the presence of the arrested suspects, a representative from the National Prosecution Service, and an elected barangay official.

The three suspects are facing charges for alleged violations of Sections 5, 6, 7, 11, and 12 of Republic Act No. 9165.

Police Regional Office 2 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Mariano C. Rodriguez said the operation highlighted the continued coordination among law enforcement agencies in the campaign against illegal drugs, adding that intelligence-driven operations would continue to target individuals involved in the illegal drug trade.