CEBU CITY, Philippines — An alleged drug courier was killed in what the policemen claimed was a shootout that ensued after they raided his house in Barangay (village) Taloot, Argao town, southern Cebu, past 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Fretchie Gecale, 25, died at the Isidro Kintanar Memorial Hospital in Argao due to gunshot wounds in the face.
SPO2 Meliton Agadier Jr. of the Argao Police Station said he shot Gecale using his 9mm service pistol after the suspect fired at the police.
The policemen headed by Senior Insp. Alejandro Batobalonos, police chief of Argao, went to the house of Gecale armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Maximo Perez of the Regional Trial Court Branch 26 in Argao, about 65 kilometers south of here.
The police applied for and were issued a search warrant after a surveillance operation showed that Gecale was selling illegal drugs in the mountain villages of Argao and nearby Sibonga town.
When the policemen arrived, Gecale was outside the house. But Gecale ran into the house, reportedly went to his room, took a gun and fired his gun at the police.
Agadier said he followed Gecale but he was shot while standing near the door.
Agadier said he shot back, hitting the suspect in the face.
Although wounded, Agadier claimed that Gecale continued firing, forcing the policeman to shoot him again.
Recovered from Gecale were two big packs and 10 small packs containing a white substance believed to be shabu, a .45 caliber pistol with four live bullets and a grenade.
Batobalonos said they wanted to implement the search warrant peacefully but they were forced to shoot the suspect because Gecale drew his gun first.
“We are only doing our job,” Batobalonos said.
Barangay Taloot chairman Virgilio Rizon said Gecale was notorious in the village for being a bully or mauling people who couldn’t fight back.
Gecale was a respondent in several complaints for indiscriminate firing.