A tricycle driver was arrested in Virac last Jan. 30, 2026 in a buy-bust operation that led to the seizure of suspected shabu and dried marijuana from the suspect.
Elements of the Virac municipal police station led by police chief PMaj. Kenneth Ding C. Gutierrez, together with personnel of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 5 (RPDEU5) and the Catanduanes Police Intelligence Unit (CatPIU) nabbed the suspect identified only as “Sonny”. 30, and a resident of barangay Antipolo del Sur.
He was collared after handing over the dangerous drugs to a poseur buyer along the provincial road at barangay Igang.
A search resulted in the recovery of the drugs, buy-bust money and other non-drug items, with the suspect placed under custody pending the laboratory examination of the drug items.
The authorities are expected to file criminal charges against him 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.
A reliable source identified the suspect as a certain Jayson Tablate Pantino.
Pursuant to the directive of Mayor Sinforoso M. Sarmiento as well as PCol. Elmer R. Cereno to stamp out illegal drugs in the capital town, the Virac MPS has continued to implement the sustained campaign against the scourge to ensure that individuals involved in the use and sale of dangerous drugs are brought before the courts.