A 43-year-old man who painted houses was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Rosales, Pangasinan.
Police identified the suspect as Mark Ian Salazar Cabangon, also known as "Noel," a resident of Barangay Zone 4.
Authorities seized from him 52.12 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of over P300,000.
Aside from illegal drugs, police also recovered an improvised caliber .22 firearm with one bullet.
Rosales Police Station Deputy Chief, PCPT Eugene Romma Navalta, confirmed that the operation was part of a long-running surveillance effort.
"Matagal na minamanmanan itong arestadong suspek, so under surveillance natin, ngayon nagresulta sa pagkaaresto niya," he said.
Cabangon now faces multiple charges. He has yet to issue a statement regarding his arrest.
