Soria orders manhunt vs. 3 pushers in buybust shoot-out

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
July 19, 2013

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria ordered a massive manhunt operations against three suspected drug pushers who engaged in a shootout with lawmen during a buy-bust operation in a westcoast village in Hilongos town in Leyte that leave a policeman wounded Wednesday night.

The regional police director informed that the shootout ensued around 8:00 p.m. at Brgy. Talisay between joint elements of Leyte Police Provincial Office and Hilongos Municipal Police Station and the suspects, identified as brothers Socrates and Teofilo Fabio and one Charlie Zarate, who are now the subject of manhunt operations.

Wounded was PO3 Lord Bolito, a member of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (AIDSOTG) of the Leyte PPO who sustained two gunshot wounds on his left arm and one on his chest.

Bolito was rushed to Remedios T. Romualdez Memorial Hospital in Tacloban City and is now in stable condition.

Soria said the shootout ensued when Socrates Fabio opened fire when Bolito was about to arrest him after being able to purchase a sachet of “shabu”.

The suspects eluded arrests under the cover of darkness.

“Tracker teams are conducting pursuit operations against the suspects and we intend to put them behind bars as soon as possible,” Soria added.

Meanwhile, the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) arrested a drug suspect in a buy-bust operation conducted in Basey town in Samar.

The RSOG, led by PInsp. Constantino Jabonete, Jr., arrested one Harold Alcoseba, 35, single and a resident of Mercado.

Alcoseba was nabbed around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday after handing out a plastic sachet containing “shabu” to a police officer who acted as a poseur buyer.

Also recovered from the suspect was another sachet of “shabu” worth P500 and the P500 marked money.

The suspect is now detained at the Basey police station.

The suspected drug pushers are facing raps for violation of the Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.