Suspected drug pusher, gun-for-hire killed in in shootout with Bohol cops

Crime scene investigation. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/MARICAR BRIZUELA)

LOON, Bohol — A suspected drug pusher, also tagged by the police as a gun-for-hire, was killed on Tuesday, in what the police claimed as a shootout during a buy-bust operation in Loon town in Bohol province.

Conchito Escabas, 30, a resident of Barangay (village) Nahawan, Clarin town, fired at policemen who were trying to arrest him, prompting the authorities to fight back, said SPO3 William Tecson, deputy chief of Loon station.

The police conducted a buy-bust operation about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the house of Escabas’ live-in partner in Barangay Catagbacan, Loon, some 27 kilometers from capital city of Tagbilaran.

“Even in early morning, he peddled shabu to his clients who came to his house,” said Tecson.

Escabas died on the spot, said Tecson.

Recovered from the crime scene were three small sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) with an estimated value of P1,700, a .38-caliber gun and P500 marked money.

The police said Escabas was on the watch list for drug pushers and users and was also suspected to be a gun-for-hire in the second district of Bohol.  SFM