CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay — Responding to a report of an abandoned speedboat at the coastal area of a small barangay in Occidental Mindoro, government troopers recovered several sacks of suspected illegal drugs worth almost ₱7 billion.
In his report, 2nd Infantry Jungle Fighter Division Public Affairs Office acting chief Colonel Michael Aquino disclosed that soldiers and Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active Auxiliary (CAA) personnel from the 76th Infantry (Victrix) Battalion under the 203rd Infantry (Bantay Kapayapaan) Brigade responded to information from a concerned citizen about a twin-engine speedboat that had run aground near Sitio Agbalite in Barangay Harrison in the coastal municipality of Paluan.
Specific detail provided by the informant prompted government troops to conduct a verification operation in the area, which led to the discovery of the 43 sacks containing white crystalline substances believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or locally known as ‘shabu’.
According to Col. Aquino, also found in the grounded vessel were a Starlink communication device, eight bengala hand flares, three fire extinguishers, four batteries, two life jackets and two lifebuoys.
Initial estimates by the authorities placed the potential street value of the suspected illegal drugs at approximately ₱P6.8 billion but the exact weight, composition and value of the seized substances will still be determined following laboratory examination and verification by appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, Aquino added that the authorities are continuing efforts to determine the origin of the seized illegal drugs while using available data to identify the individuals involved in the incident.