Man slain in shootout with cops in Oriental Mindoro

CITY OF CALAPAN –  A man was killed after he engaged policemen in a firefight during a buy-bust operation late night Sunday in Puerto Galera town in Oriental Mindoro province, police said Monday.

Supt.  Imelda Tolentino, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) police information officer, said Benjo Gayod was the target of the anti-illegal drug operation in Sitio (sub-village) Kaber in Barangay (village) Sabang which happened at 10:35 p.m.

During the operation, Gayod noticed that he was transacting with police operatives and drew his caliber super .38 pistol and fired shots but the policemen “returned fire and neutralized the suspect”, said Tolentino.

He died while being taken to the Puerto Galera Hospital.

Police learned that Gayod was one of the six detainees of San Pedro City Police Station in Laguna province who escaped last May 2017.

Thirteen sachets containing white crystalline substance believed to be “shabu” (crystal meth), marked money, and the said gun were confiscated from Gayod’s possession.