At least P2.5 million worth of stockpiled shabu was seized late Monday night after the Bacolod City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit (BCPO-CDEU) conducted a buy-bust operation in the city’s Barangay 1. Police arrested 28-year-old Jessel Castillo, a resident of the said place.
Meanwhile, the primary target of the operation, identified as Ernesto Calatis, managed to escape.
BCPO director, Police Colonel Henry Biñas, said they identified Calatis, who was just released from jail after serving time for separate illegal drugs charges, as a high-value drug target.

The law enforcement official said they recovered a total of 54 sachets of suspected shabu with a combined weight of 200 grams, the P1,000 buy-bust money, and drug paraphernalia.
He added, the stockpiled illegal drugs were expected to be sold to users who are in the city for the ongoing MassKara Festival.
Police are now conducting a manhunt operation against Calatis, while Castillo is presently detained at Police Station 2 on drug-related charges./DGB, WDJ