Bacolod: Anti-drug operatives of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) arrested eight persons and recovered PHP1.36 million in shabu during a buy-bust at a residence in Purok Tahong, Barangay 2, on Tuesday. The subject alias 'Lorence,' 22, was caught red-handed selling shabu, and was apprehended along with seven others during the operation conducted by the City Drug Enforcement Unit around 4:40 a.m. Also arrested were aliases 'Vincent,' 39; 'Ace,' 34; 'Mark,' 31; 'John,' 29; 'Ogie,' 27; 'Ren,' 23; and 'Karl,' 22. The confiscated shabu totaled 200 grams, pegged at PHP6,800 per gram.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Tuesday operation is the latest in a series of major drug hauls since the start of the 46th MassKara Festival on Oct. 1. 'The Masskara Festival embodies the spirit of joy, unity, and resilience of Bacolodnons. We will not allow illegal drugs to cast a shadow on this celebration or endanger the lives of our people,' Brig. Gen Arnold Thomas Ibay, regional director of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region and commander of Task Group MassKara, said in a statement.

On Oct. 2, drug enforcement teams arrested five individuals and recovered PHP3.536 million in shabu in three separate buy-busts. Alias 'Pindot,' 27, yielded 170 grams of shabu worth PHP1.156 million in Calong-Calong Barangay Singcang-Airport, while alias 'Kwa-Kwa,' 41, was caught possessing 100 grams of shabu valued at PHP680,000 along Roxas Avenue in Barangay 40. At Purok Barracuda, Barangay 1, operatives recovered 250 grams of shabu amounting to PHP1.7 million from aliases 'Mark,' 21; 'Reniel,' 22; and 'Dave,' 23.

On Oct. 1, alias 'Anthony,' 35, was intercepted at a checkpoint and was found possessing 220 grams of shabu valued at PHP1.496 million.