A capitol janitor who had been arrested last year for gambling during office hours has been arrested in a buy-bust operation last week that yielded 14 sachets of shabu and a loaded revolver.
Joint elements of the Virac police station, the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU), the Regional Intelligence Division and the Catanduanes Police Intelligence Branch led by Chief Master Sgt. Salvador Avila Jr. arrested Roman Romero Valera, 46, a resident of Gogon Centro and employed as an administrative aide assigned to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, following the operation conducted on Feb. 12, 2020 at 10 P.M. at barangay San Roque.
The police seized from him a small sachet of shabu used in the buy-bust operation, nine more sachets of the same size and four medium-sized sachets of the illegal drug.
Also confiscated were a black clutch bag, a Cal. 38 revolver, three bullets, a medium plastic sachet, a Samsung cellphone and the P500 bill used as buy-bust money.
He faces charges of violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Almost a year ago, in the afternoon of Feb. 28, 2019, joint elements of the Virac police, the Catanduanes police intelligence branch and the 1st Police Mobile Force Company arrested Valera, 44, while playing “pusoy” during office hours inside a nipa hut beside the Legislative Building with job order employees Eugenio Maroon Jr., 59, of Yocti, San Andres; Ronald Ong, 49, of Rawis, Virac; Raul Clemente, 44, of Pajo Baguio, Virac; Zaldy Olido, 53, of Divino Rostro, San Andres, and Nestor Evan Marquez, 29, of Sta. Elena, Virac.
The police seized from them were a set of playing cards and P1,565 in bets. They were later charged with violation of Presidential Decree 1602.