PANGLAO, Bohol—Police operatives on Friday shot dead their former colleague who was tagged as the No. 3 drug personality in Panglao town, Bohol.
The fatality was identified as dismissed Police Officer 3 Rainero Estoque, who allegedly distributed illegal drugs in Panglao town, home to several beach resorts in Bohol.
“He (Estoque) was on the town police’s drug watchlist, in fact top 3,” said PO1 Mark Yana, desk officer of the Panglao Police Station.
The human resource and doctrine development branch of the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) said Estoque was dismissed four years ago because of his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
Yana said a buy-bust operation was conducted by joint operatives of the Panglao police, BPPO’s Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC)/Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) against Estoque on Friday afternoon.
The drug deal took place at Estoque’s residence in Barangay Bil-isan but police said that he fired at them upon sensing that the prospective buyers were policemen.
“He immediately fired at the operatives who fought back,” Yana said.
Estoque suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body. He died while being taken to a hospital in Tagbilaran for treatment.
Recovered from Estoque were six small and one medium-sized sachets of suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride), P500 marked money and three pieces aluminium foil. Also recovered from the suspect was a .38 pistol.
Estoque surrendered to Panglao police two weeks ago for Operation Tokhang, a campaign that aimed to persuade drug users and pushers to surrender and change their ways.