Jail guard, village official shot dead in Antique drug buy-bust

Shootout. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)

ILOILO CITY — A jail guard and a barangay (village) official were killed in an alleged shootout with the police’s anti-drugs group at a public market in Antique province on Tuesday morning.

The fatalities were identified as Enecito Escaner, a resident of Belison in Antique who worked as a jail guard at the Antique Provincial Rehabilitation Center; and Robert Magbanua, a councilor of Barangay Caridad, Hamtic town.

Senior Supt. Norbe Escobar, Antique police director, said Escaner was considered a high value target among drug personalities.

He refused to undergo a drug test when it was conducted at the facility last month.

“He (Escaner) operated in the province (Antique) mainly at the capital town of San Jose De Buenavista in Antique,” said Escobar.

A buy-bust operation was conducted at 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Bato Norte, San Jose Antique, said the police director.

But Escaner and Magbanua hurriedly boarded their motorcycle to escape when they noticed the arrival of policemen.

“There was a long chase until they were cornered at the Hamtic public market where the shootout happened,” he said.  SFM/rga