Catanduanes police personnel apprehended an automotive mechanic in Bato town last week for selling a fragmentation grenade to an undercover officer in a buy-bust operation.
Together with elements of the Catanduanes Police Intelligence Unit (CatPIU), personnel of the Bato Municipal Police Station mounted the sting operation against the suspect in the late afternoon of July 3, 2026 in barangay Tilis.
As soon as the suspect, identified by a source as one Nomar Rodriguez Lopez, 41, of Cabugao, the law enforcers arrested him and confiscated the one genuine P500 bill and nine counterfeit bills used as “budol” money, five pieces of unfired Cal. 45 cartridges, an MK2 fragmentation grenade, and the Rusi Macho TC-150 tricycle he used during the transaction.
The evidence was inventoried on site in the presence of the suspect and Tilis barangay kagawas Rey Tesorero.
Lopez, who had no existing prior criminal record or outstanding warrant, will be charged with violation of Section 1 of Republic Act 9516 for the sale of explosives and Section 28 of RA 1-591 for possession of ammunition for small arms.
Three days later, it was the Virac police’s turn to bag another target in its campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs.
Operatives of the Virac MPS, together with elements of the CatPIU and the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) arrested a 55-year-old man who was the subject of a search warrant issued by the local court.
In the July 6, 2026 operation conducted in barangay Capilihan, the police caught the suspect in the act of using illegal drugs before the warrant could be served.
Recovered in his possession were several sachets of suspected shabu and various drug paraphernalia, with the illegal drugs weighing approximately one gram with a street value of P6,800.
A subsequent search of the resident after the formal service of the warrant turned up more illegal drugs with a total weight of 8 grams valued at P54,000.
The suspect, who was identified by a source as one Alvin dela Cruz, will face charges of violating Sections 11 and 12 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for the possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia.