A tricycle driver was arrested during a buy-bust operation Monday night, April 28, 2025, at Dela Peña Village, corner of Cabantian Road, in front of Roasters Lechon Baka, Barangay Cabantian, Davao City.
The suspect was identified as Mariejoel Cagaanan Batingal, alias “Butoy,” 47, a resident of Barangay 31-D, Davao City.
Police said personnel from Buhangin Police Station 5, conducted the operation with PDEA coordination, which led to the arrest of Batingal and the seizure of suspected illegal drugs valued at approximately ₱1 million.
Authorities confiscated one sealed transparent plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, allegedly sold during the operation. Three additional sachets of suspected shabu were found in his possession, along with a blue sling bag, cellphone, a driver’s license, two one-hundred peso bills, and marked buy-bust money consisting of a genuine ₱500 bill and twenty-five ₱1,000 machine-copied bills.
Batingal and the seized items are now under the custody of Police Station 5 for proper disposition.
Charges for violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 are being prepared against the suspect through an inquest proceeding.
