FIVE suspected high-value drug targets were arrested in a series of buy-bust operations that dismantled a drug network in San Francisco, Camotes Islands, Cebu, on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 21 and 22, 2025.
The joint operations of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 and the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) yielded more than 1.1 kilos of suspected shabu valued at about P7.65 million.
Authorities said the operations were launched to maintain San Francisco’s drug-cleared status, which it achieved in May 2022.
The first operation took place at 5:23 p.m. Thursday in Sitio Matab-ang, Barangay Sonog. Renmar Matugas, 40, was arrested while his companion, regional target-listed individual Regan Rica, escaped. Seized from Matugas were six packs of suspected shabu weighing 505 grams worth P3.4 million. Police said a manhunt has been launched for Rica.
At 10:14 p.m. the same day, authorities conducted another buy-bust in Barangay Sta. Cruz, where 515 grams of shabu worth P3.5 million were recovered, including the marked money. Arrested were Ronel Capawa Granada, 40, of Tudela, and John Michael Estrera Albaracin, 22, of San Francisco.
The third operation happened at 1:12 a.m. Friday in Barangay San Isidro, resulting in the seizure of 105 grams of shabu worth P714,000. Arrested were Ricardo Wenceslao, 53, and Jaykert Delcoro Pugay, 20, both of San Francisco.
CPPO Director Col. Christopher Bermudez said the operation was unusual because it dismantled a large network trafficking illegal drugs across the Camotes Islands.
The arrested individuals are detained at the San Francisco Municipal Police Station. Cases for illegal drug selling, which carry penalties of life imprisonment and fines ranging from P500,000 to P1 million, are being prepared against them. / AYB