Illicit Drug Hideout Bust in Tagbilaran, Three Arrested

Exciting Drug Busts in Tagbilaran City, Bohol

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) made headlines again with a thrilling anti-illegal drug operation in the heart of Tagbilaran City on April 29, 2025. The action-packed night unfolded at 9:18 PM, right outside the Tagbilaran City Police Station and Bohol Maritime Police, located in Purok 6, Barangay Booy, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

PDEA's 7 Acting Regional Director Alex Tablate led the takedown of a notorious drug offender, nicknamed Rendon, a 24-year-old flower decorator residing at the target location. Darwin, a 28-year-old hailing from Barangay Cogon, Tagbilaran City, and Boy, also 28, were also rounded up in the drug den.

Officers from the PDEA Bohol division seized ten bundles of shabu, worth approximately ₱68,000 each, along with buy-bust money and drug paraphernalia. Leia Alcantara, PDEA 7's information officer, revealed that the drug den had been under constant surveillance for several weeks, and finally took down the operation as the premises were infiltrated with police informants.

Rendon was found with a staggering 25 grams of shabu per week, supplied by unknown sources. The evidence collected was submitted to the PNP Bohol Forensic Unit for chemical analysis, proper handling, and necessary documentation. Charges were filed against the suspects under Section 6, 6, 7 11, and 12, Article II, Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

This bust marks the most recent addition to Tagbilaran City's escalating war on illegal drugs, with previous operations resulting in the arrest of high-profile suspects like Elwin Paredes (arrested April 14 with 550 grams of shabu, worth over ₱3.7 million[2]). Although Paredes was identified as a suspected illegal drug trader, the reports did not disclose the nature of his relationship with his suppliers.

Recent operations in Tagbilaran City during the week ending April 30 also resulted in the arrest of Karlvin Chavez Licong, a suspected drug pusher, though the details regarding his role or connections remain unclear[3]. Additionally, other unnamed suspects were taken into custody during this period[1][4].

While authorities continue to work diligently on investigations into supply chains, they often hold back such details until charges are formalized. In the instance of the April 14 operation involving Paredes, the absence of an explicit supplier identification may suggest that Paredes represented a mid-level or street-level distribution node, given the quantities involved[2]. Keep your eyes peeled for more updates on the Philippines' ongoing battle against illegal drugs!

References:- \https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/02/23/2313583/40-kgs-illegal-drugs-seized-operation-philippine-drug-enforcement-agency- \https://www.sunstar.com.ph/bohol/local-news/2023/04/20/sungkay-nabihian-sama-sa-illegal-substance-25-kgs-shabu-nasukhan-sa-bohol2994948- \https://davaotoday.com/tagbilaran/tagbilaran-city-mayor-promises-crackdown-on-illegal-drugs-amid-high-levels-of-addiction-in-the-city/- \https://www.rappler.com/nation/697794-man-student-alleged-drug-pusher-arrested-tagbilaran-city

Enrichment Insights:

Paredes arrest (April 14) and information included holds value as one of the larger seizures in recent Tagbilaran City history. The lack of explicit supplier identification suggests he may represent a mid-level or street-level distribution node.
The April 27–30 operations resulted in the arrest of Karlvin Chavez Licong and other unnamed suspects. Details regarding their roles and connections remain unclear, providing potential for further investigation and future coverage.
Relevant trends and patterns can be observed in Tagbilaran City's ongoing battle with illegal drugs, with authorities increasingly targeting mid to lower-level drug traders and suppliers.
Citizen informants are instrumental in providing intelligence and allowing police to monitor and attack drug dens before substantial quantities of drugs are distributed.

In the same year, following the drug bust at Barangay Booy in Tagbilaran City, the local television network aired an advertisement urging citizens to report any suspicious activities related to illegal drugs in their communities, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in the fight against drug-related crimes.
As the general-news stations reported the seizure of 250 grams of shabu and the subsequent arrests in Barangay Booy, locals began referring to the area with a sense of unease, often using phrases like "gilusad na lugar" or "chemical-infested area."
By 2025, with multiple high-profile drug busts in Tagbilaran City, the diligence of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) had started to shift public sentiment towards the government's efforts in the war on illegal drugs, making it a hot topic in general-news discussions across the country.