From routine to care: A checkpoint
becomes a place of care
The sound of engines, the rhythm of passing vehicles, and the lingering roadside smoke painted a familiar scene—another routine checkpoint in motion. But on this ordinary day, duty took an unexpected turn as compassion quietly took the lead.
On April 23, 2026, in Pinukpuk, Kalinga, personnel of the Pinukpuk Municipal Police Station were conducting a standard checkpoint when they faced a situation that called for more than vigilance. Amid the flow of motorists, they spotted a distressed mother passing by—barefoot, visibly exhausted, and holding her baby tightly. The infant was in urgent need of care.
Without hesitation, PCpl Jaynifer D Pattal of PSBRC Class MAKATINDIG, a native of Pinukpuk, Kalinga, and PCpl Arlyn D Dumayag-Peng-at of PSBRC Class LIYAB-DIWA from Tabuk City, shifted instinctively from enforcement to empathy.
Their response was immediate and sincere. They carefully checked the infant, handling the baby with calm and genuine concern. They bought a diaper and personally made sure the baby was cleaned and comfortable. Recognizing the urgency, they also coordinated with nearby residents, who generously provided spare clothing for the child.
Meanwhile, the overwhelmed and weary mother was given food and a moment to rest. The officers further offered financial assistance to help cover her fare, ensuring both she and her child could safely return home.
In that brief but meaningful encounter, the checkpoint became more than a place of inspection—it became a place of care. What happened that day serves as a quiet but powerful reminder of the human side of policing. Beyond the authority of the uniform lies a deeper mission: not only to enforce the law, but also to uplift, protect, and respond with compassion to those in need.
Over P3.3M worth of illegal drugs seized, 3 drug personalities arrested in PRO CAR’s weekend drug ops
In line with the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the Philippine National Police, the Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO CAR) successfully conducted anti-illegal drugs operations that resulted in the seizure of PhP3,335,072.00 worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of three drug personalities in the provinces of Benguet and Ifugao from April 25 to 26, 2026.
The marijuana eradication operation, carried out under Oplan “Ultimate Grasscutter” of the Benguet Police Provincial Office (PPO), spearheaded by PCOL LEDON D MONTE, Deputy Regional Director for Operations of PRO CAR and Officer-in-Charge of Benguet PPO, led to the discovery of eight plantation sites containing 12,484 fully grown marijuana plants and 5,000 grams of dried marijuana, with an overall Standard Drug Price (SDP) of PhP3,096,800.00 in Brgy. Pudong, Kapangan, Brgy. Kayapa, Bakun, and Brgy. Sagpat, Kibungan.
The operation was conducted by the joint forces of Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) and Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of Benguet PPO, Bakun Municipal Police Station (MPS), Kapangan MPS, 1st and 2nd Benguet Provincial Mobile Force Companies (PMFCs), Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 (RMFB15), Regional Intelligence Division of PRO CAR, Regional Intelligence Unit 14, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-CAR.
All marijuana plants discovered during these operations were properly documented and immediately burned on-site after representative samples were collected for examination by the Regional Forensic Unit-CAR.
Meanwhile, the successful buy-bust operations led to the arrest of three drug personalities, all listed as Street Level Individuals:
– in Benguet, a 55-year old male was apprehended in Brgy. Pico, La Trinidad by the operatives of La Trinidad MPS, PDEU and PIU of Benguet PPO, Special Operations Unit-CAR, and PDEA-CAR after he sold one sachet of suspected shabu weighing 5 grams with an SDP of PhP34,000.00. During his arrest, another two sachets of suspected shabu weighing 28.59 grams with an SDP of PhP194,412.00 were confiscated from his possession;
– and in Ifugao, two males, aged 38 and 45, were nabbed in Brgy. Mabatobato, Lamut by the operatives of Lamut MPS, PIU of Ifugao PPO, RMFB15, 1st Ifugao PMFC, and PDEA-Ifugao after they sold one sachet of suspected shabu weighing 0.47 grams with an SDP of PhP3,196.00. During their arrest, another three sachets of suspected shabu weighing 0.98 grams with an SDP of PhP6,664.00 were recovered from their possession.
All arrested suspects and confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the custody of the respective arresting units for proper documentation and disposition. The suspects will be facing charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
