BACOLOR -- More than P1.5 million worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu was seized by local authorities here during a drug bust launched in Barangay Cabalantian over the weekend.

The suspected illegal drugs, with an estimated weight of 500 grams, were confiscated from a suspected drug peddler identified as Michael “Mike” Cunanan, a resident of Barangay Quebiawan in adjacent City of San Fernando.

According to this town’s chief of police Major Louie Gonzaga, Cunanan was a subject of a series of monitoring operations due to reports of his widespread peddling of illegal drugs in various towns of the province.

“The suspect is listed on our target drug personalities and was under our monitoring for quite some time now because he is known to be dealing large amounts of illegal drugs,” Gonzaga said.

Aside from Bacolor police, Gonzaga said Cunanan is also included in the target watchlist of several local police stations including Guagua and City of San Fernando due to his transactions there.

Meanwhile, aside from the shabu, police were also able to recover the P1,000 marked money used in the operation, a caliber .38 revolver without serial number, various drug paraphernalia and a sports utility vehicle used by the suspect.

Cunanan, who is now under the custody of the police, is facing charges for violation of the Sections 5 and 11 of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Police Regional Office III director Brigadier General Joel Coronel, for his part, assured Central Luzon residents of the police’s unwavering efforts to eradicate all forms of illegal drugs within the region, while re-invigorating its anti-criminality campaigns at the same time.