Drug pusher slain in Bohol town shootout

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – A suspected drug pusher was killed in what police said was a shootout in Tubigon town, Bohol on Thursday morning.

Major Jojit Mananquil, team leader of the Regional Special Operations Group in Central Visayas (RSOG-7), identified the fatality as Richie Banquil, 31, a resident of Barangay Cahayag in Tubigon.

Banquil, according to Mananquil, was a high-value target who got his supply of illegal drugs from Cebu.

It took them at least three months to monitor the drug trade of Banquil after his brother, Jeopard, a regional level high-value target, was arrested last March.

Police traced the drug warehouse at Banquil’s residence in Tubigon.

At 11 a.m. on Thursday, Banquil noticed the approaching police who were about to serve a search warrant against him.

He fled towards a chicken farm, drew his firearm, and shot the policemen who were forced to retaliate.

Banquil suffered a bullet wound in the body.

He was rushed to the Tubigon Community Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Police also arrested Banquil’s sister Christina, 33, and three others identified as Junrey Taghap, Romel Ullyamot and Jayson Asuela who were inside his house during the operation.

Operatives seized one kilo of shabu with an estimated value of P6.8 million and 169 tablets of suspected ecstasy. With reports from Benjie Talisic /lzb