A former drug surrenderee undergoing probation in Virac will certainly get a lengthy stay in jail after his arrest last week in a buy-bust operation, his second in almost eight years.
Michael Lucero Lopez, 40, also known as “Tagas” and a resident of barangay Concepcion, was ensnared in the sting operation conducted last Mar. 23, 2022 at about 5:15 PM in Calatagan Tibang by elements of the Virac police station led by PLt. Arnee Julius Dedase, together with PDEA Catanduanes headed by IA1 Van Dyke Fidelson, the Catanduanes Provincial Intelligence Unit and the 1st and 2nd Catanduanes Provincial Mobile Force Company.
A casual employee of the Virac municipal government, Lucero yielded a total of eight sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with an estimated weight of 50 grams and a street value of P340,000.00.
Also seized as evidence was the P500 bill used by the poseur-buyer as buy-bust money.
According to the report, Lopez was previously charged with possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia in violation of Sections 11 and 12 of Republic Act 9165 in July 2014.
Apparently, the drug surrenderee pleaded guilty to the lower offense and underwent probation but continued engaging in the drug trade based on reports submitted to the Isumbong Mo Kay Tsip hotline and confirmed through monitoring and surveillance by drug enforcement operatives.
Lopez is set to face criminal charges for the sale and possession of dangerous drugs in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Virac police chief Maj. Robert Kevin Caparroso appealed to those engaged in illegal drugs to cease from using or selling them and urged the public to be observant and provide information to the police in order to stop the proliferation of dangerous drugs.