A man has alleged that he was targeted in an attempted shabu-planting incident involving individuals who allegedly followed and confronted him along Colon Street in Cebu City early Tuesday morning, Aug. 11, 2026.
Rey Anthony Abing said he was on his way home after work when he noticed a man wearing a black sleeveless shirt and face mask riding a bicycle. He said the cyclist repeatedly looked at him, whistled, and appeared to follow him as he walked through the area.
Suspicious Following
Abing said he initially thought the man was simply trying to get his attention. However, he became suspicious when the cyclist allegedly continued following him even after he changed his route.
He said he walked toward the McDonald’s area near Unitop and later headed toward Abellana. According to Abing, the cyclist continued to remain nearby and allegedly followed him along the way.
Man Allegedly Claims to Be Police Officer
The situation escalated near the University of Cebu area, where Abing said he stayed close to several people and a security guard after becoming concerned for his safety.
According to his account, another man wearing a jacket and cap suddenly approached him, grabbed him by the neck and identified himself as a police officer. The man allegedly accused Abing of carrying two sachets of shabu inside his bag and signaled the cyclist to contact police officers in the area.
Abing Calls for Help
Abing said he immediately shouted for help and secured his bag and pockets because he feared that something could be placed inside them. He also said he asked the man to show his police identification, but the man allegedly failed to present one.
When actual police officers arrived, Abing said he explained that he was being accused of involvement in a drug transaction. He then insisted on checking his own belongings and showing the contents of his bag.
According to Abing, the bag contained makeup and BINI photo cards that he had used during a concert.
Conflicting Allegations
Abing said the individuals later gave conflicting accounts about why they approached him. One allegation was that he was supposedly a contact on a dating application who had arranged to meet for a drug transaction.
Abing denied the accusation and said he was willing to undergo a drug test to prove that he was not involved in illegal drugs. He said the police officers instead helped calm the situation and brought the parties to a nearby fast-food establishment to continue discussing the incident.
Alleged Police Impersonation
Abing claimed that the man who initially identified himself as a police officer later admitted that he was not actually a police officer. According to Abing, the man pleaded for forgiveness and said they had mistaken him for another person.
Abing also claimed that the cyclist changed his account during the confrontation, initially identifying Abing as his supposed contact before later saying that Abing was allegedly with the person he had been communicating with.
Blotter Filed
Abing said the incident ended at around 7:25 a.m. He later sought assistance from friends, who helped him file a blotter report at Police Station 5.
He also said he contacted his friends through a video call during the incident and asked them to record the call as a precaution.
A Warning to the Public
Abing described the incident as traumatic and said he decided to share his experience online to warn others about similar situations.
He said he was proud of how he responded, particularly because he believed that someone who was less aware of their rights could have been intimidated by the accusations.
Abing urged the public to remain alert when approached by strangers claiming to be authorities and to seek help from legitimate police officers or nearby security personnel when they feel threatened. As of this posting, the Cebu City Police Office’s comment on the allegations had not yet been received.
