Two arrested for attempting to plant illegal drugs on man

CEBU, Philippines — Two men, one of whom was posing as a cop, were arrested after being caught on video attempting to plant illegal drugs on another man along Colon Street on August 11, 2026.

After the video was posted and went viral on social media, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) denied any association with the suspects.

This came as CCPO Deputy Director for Administration PLtCol. Franco Rodulf Oriol said one of the men allegedly introduced himself as a police officer during the incident.

However, police verification showed that neither of the two men is a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The two men were also arrested after they were allegedly found in possession of firearms and suspected illegal drugs, while police continue to investigate the incident and the allegations against them.

The incident earlier went viral after Rey Anthony Castillanes Abing, the victim, recounted that he was allegedly followed by a man while walking along Colon Street early on August 11.

Abing said he noticed the man, who was wearing a black sleeveless shirt and a face mask while riding a bicycle, consistently following him.

He added that he changed his route several times in an attempt to avoid the man, but the latter allegedly continued following him.

Abing eventually made his way into a crowded area where a security guard was also present.

Shortly after, another man wearing a jacket and cap allegedly approached him and grabbed him by the neck while introducing himself as a police officer.

According to Abing, the man accused him of carrying two sachets of shabu inside his bag and instructed his companion to call the police.

Abing immediately shouted for help and secured his bag and pockets before asking the man to show his police identification.

The man allegedly failed to present any identification to support his claims.

When actual police officers arrived, Abing denied the accusation and asked that his bag be checked.

He said his bag contained makeup and BINI photo cards, and no shabu was found.

Abing also claimed that the two men gave conflicting accounts regarding their accusations against him, including an allegation that he was a contact on a dating application for an alleged illegal drug transaction.

He said he was also willing to undergo a drug test to prove that he was not involved in illegal drugs.

The individuals involved were later brought to a nearby fast-food establishment, where the incident was further discussed.

According to Abing, the man who initially introduced himself as a police officer later admitted that he was not a member of the police force and said they had mistaken Abing for someone else.

With the assistance of his friends, Abing later filed a blotter report at Police Station 5, citing the trauma caused by what had happened.

Abing later shared his account on social media to warn the public to remain vigilant and be aware of their rights when faced with similar situations.

The police investigation remains ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the appropriate charges that may be filed against the two men. — /IHM (FREEMAN)