The construction worker and his live-in partner who were caught during a drug buy-bust operation had been arrested for a similar offense three years ago, a police source said last week.
Operatives of the Virac Municipal Police Station apprehended live-in partners “Lem,” 37, and “Bhe,” 41, both residents of Cavinitan, last Dec. 28, 2025 when they tried to sell suspected shabu to an undercover police officer in the operation conducted in barangay F. Tacorda Village.
The law enforcers headed by police chief PMaj. Kenneth Ding C. Gutierrez recovered from the couple the suspected illegal drug, the buy-bust money and non-drug items.
They are now in custody of the police pending the laboratory examination of the drug evidence and the preparation of appropriate charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for the sale and possession of dangerous drugs.
The provincial police headquarters said that pursuant to the directive of Provincial Director PCol. Elmer R. Cereno, all police units are continuously implementing the heightened campaign against illegal drugs in order to ensure that all individuals involved in the use and sale of illegal drugs would be caught and brought to justice.
A source told the Tribune that the two individuals, who were identified as Rommel Sanchez and Ma. Salve Ferrer, had been arrested in similar police operations three or four years ago.
In the early morning of Sept. 29, 2021, the Virac police implemented a search warrant issued by then Regional Trial Court Branch 42 Presiding Judge Genie G. Gapas-Agbada at Ferrer’s residence in barangay Palta Small, Virac.
Searchers found nine sachets of shabu in possession of the suspect, also known as “Bebe” or “Ambe,” with the results of the laboratory examination stating that the illegal drugs had a total weight of 14.926 grams and valued at P101,510.40 at the time.
Almost a year later on Sept. 21, 2022 at 7:05 PM, a buy-bust operation mounted by the Virac MPS in barangay Constantino led to the arrest of Sanchez, then a maintenance man and alleged member of Sorreda Gang involved in robbery, theft, gun running and illegal drugs.
The police recovered the sachet that was the subject of sale and six more sachets containing the same white crystalline substance.