Two arrested, P500-K worth of illegal drugs seized in Cantilan
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
CANTILAN, Surigao del Sur (PIA) -- On July 1 in Barangay Pag-antayan, Cantilan, acting on a tip from a concerned citizen, government authorities carried out a well-coordinated anti-drug operation that led to the arrest of two suspects and the confiscation of suspected illegal drugs worth over P500,000.
The successful operation between the government forces and the public served as a cornerstone of the Bagong Pilipinas agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. which promotes inclusive, secure, and resilient communities.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga, through its Surigao del Sur Provincial Office, took the lead in the mission, with support from the Regional Special Enforcement Team, local police units, the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), and the Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC).
Inside a modest home in Purok 5, Barangay Pag-antayan, authorities found the suspected shabu alongside several items commonly used in drug operations, digital weighing scales, lighters, aluminum foil strips, and an improvised water pipe, evidence of a drug activity that had quietly infiltrated the neighborhood.
But what was truly reclaimed in the operation was more than illegal drugs, it was the people’s trust and power to protect their community.
“This case reminds us that even a single message, whether through text or online, can set in motion an operation that protects an entire community,” said PDEA Caraga Director Levi Ortiz.
The suspects are now under temporary custody and will face criminal charges under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. While the legal process proceeds, the broader win lies in how one person’s decision to speak out helped shield an entire barangay from further harm.
The citizen-led effort supported the Marcos administration’s whole-of-nation approach to fighting illegal drugs, promoting public safety, and strengthening local governance, key goals under its Peace and Order agenda. It also reflected the importance of participatory governance through digital platforms like eGovPH and “Isumbong Mo Sa PDEA,” which give people a voice and help them become part of the solution.
PDEA encouraged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through its official social media platform, “Isumbong Mo Sa PDEA” (IMSP), assuring strict confidentiality and protection for informants.
As the campaign against illegal drugs continues, PDEA reiterates its commitment to work closely with local stakeholders. The success in Cantilan proves that when the community and government move as one, in courage and cooperation, safer, healthier, and more empowered communities can thrive.
This is the Bagong Pilipinas in action, where progress is not just measured in infrastructure or investment, but in people taking ownership of peace, and government responding with resolve. (Photo courtesy of PDEA 13/NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)
