Gomez, also known as “Rapid Fire” and “Mac-mac”, was not at his residence in Palnab del Norte, Virac last Dec. 17, 2021 at 11:46 PM when elements of the Virac police station led by PEMS Primarion Magana Jr., together with personnel of the Catanduanes Police Intelligence Unit, Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 5 and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) under the supervision of PMaj. Robert Kevin Caparroso, arrived to serve the search warrant issued by RTC Branch 43 Presiding Judge Lelu P. Contretras against the laborer for violation of Republic Act 9165.
The search, however, proved fruitful as the police confiscated an improvised firearm with eight shotgun ammunition, 12 small plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, and four more containing white residue.