Two more suspected drug pushers were arrested by the Catanduanes police in separate buy-bust operations in Virac and San Miguel towns over the past two weeks.
In the capital town last March 22, 2024, joint elements of Virac police station, the Catanduanes Provincial Intelligence Unit (CATPIUT), Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Catanduanes arrested fisherman Jose Ramirez Tabor, 49, a resident iof Purok 3, Cavinitan, as soon as he handed over the small, heat-sealed plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu to the poseur buyer at 4:25 PM along Angeles St.
A search led to the discovery of two more sachets of shabu in his possession as well as non-drug items including a P500 bill, lighter and the mountain bike he was using at the time.
Eight days later in District 3, San Miguel, personnel of the town police, CATPIU and PDEA collared Jhon Jiffer Lahay-Lahay Bernal, also known as “Kimi,” 33, a tricycle driver, in another buy-bust operation involving a sachet of suspected shabu during Holy Saturday, March 30, at 10:45 AM.
Also confiscated as evidence were another sachet containing dried leaves believed to be marijuana found inside a black coin purse in his tactical shorts and a P500 bill.
Both suspects face criminal charges for violation of Section 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165 for the sale and possession of dangerous drugs, respectively.