Anti-narcotics agents seized P125,000 worth of shabu from a construction worker, clandestinely selling his illegal merchandise in project sites, entrapped in Barangay Sto. Nino in Koronadal City on Monday, April 13.

Charlene Magdurulang, director of the PDEA 12, said on Tuesday, April 14, that the suspect is now in their custody, awaiting prosecution in court.

The 42-year-old construction worker, whom Magdurulang initially identified only as Berting, while efforts to locate his cohorts are still underway, is included in the police and PDEA 12’s list of “high value” marijuana and shabu traffickers in Region 12.

Magdurulang said the suspect was immediately frisked and detained by their agents after selling to them shabu during a tradeoff in Purok Pag-Asa in Barangay Sto. Nino in Koronadal City.

PDEA 12 agents and policemen had seized from him then P125,000 worth of shabu and his mobile phone.

Magdurulang said the operation that led to his arrest was assisted by local executives in Koronadal City and Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr. and officials of personnel of different units of the Police Regional Office 12 under its director, Brig. Gen. Arnold Ardiente.

Magdurulang said the operation was premised on reports by confidential tipsters about his shabu peddling activities to city officials and to Tamayo, who, as governor, is the presiding chairperson of the multi-sector South Cotabato Provincial Peace and Order Council. (April 14, 2026)