CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – A provincial top-priority illegal drug personality tagged as a High-Value Individual (HVI) was taken into custody Friday night, as Pampanga police wrapped up a string of law enforcement operations across the province that also netted other drug suspects and wanted persons.
The HVI, said to be part of a criminal gang, was arrested during a buy-bust at around 10:50 PM in Barangay San Vicente, Bacolor, according to reports from the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3).
Seized from the suspect were about 5 grams of suspected shabu worth an estimated 34,000 pesos, six sealed sachets, and the marked 500-peso bill used in the operation.
The Bacolor Municipal Police Station’s Drug Enforcement Unit led the HVI arrest under COPLAN “RVEN,” as part of efforts spearheaded by the Pampanga Police Provincial Office (PPO) under Provincial Director PCOL Eugene M. Marcelo.
Earlier the same day, multiple operations targeted other offenders across different areas. In Bacolor’s Barangay Cabalantian at 1:30 AM, a drug suspect was arrested with roughly 1.8 grams of suspected shabu valued at 12,240 pesos, three sachets, and a marked 500-peso bill. In Apalit’s Barangay San Vicente at 2:25 PM, a listed drug personality was caught with 1.16 grams of suspected shabu worth 7,888 pesos and a marked bill. In Magalang’s Barangay La Paz at 2:40 PM, police seized 1.5 grams of suspected shabu along with a .38-caliber firearm and one live round during a buy-bust that led to an arrest. In the City of San Fernando’s Barangay Del Pilar at 11:00 AM, a person wanted for Falsification of Public Document was apprehended. In Mabalacat City’s Barangay Duquit at 3:00 PM, another wanted individual was arrested for Estafa.
BGen. Rogelio Peñones Jr., PRO3 Regional Director, emphasized that the operations are part of broader efforts to keep Central Luzon safe. “We’re not just working within city or province lines – criminals don’t respect boundaries, so neither do we,” he said.