It was a bloody beginning for the newly elected officials of Tagbilaran City as a suspected big time drug pusher and his companion were slain in a hail of bullets from elements of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO), a few minutes before the start of their oath taking ceremonies.
Kalvin Licong, 24, single and a resident of Torrero Private Road, Cogon District, Tagbilaran City and his still unidentified companion were killed during a buy bust operation this afternoon, inside a room in a pension house located in Tamblot St. Extension, Cogon District, Tagbilaran City.
Licong, according to the police is a level 1 drug dealer allegedly disposing 1 kilo of shabu a week. Police was tipped that Licong was bringing in 3 kilos of shabu estimated at P33 million.
Initial police investigation showed that Licong handed to a police asset one sachet containing suspected shabu in exchange for P500.00 marked money in the hallway near their room.
Sensing the presence of police officers, Licong and his companion attempted to pull out their firearms hidden under the bed mattress but were beaten to the draw by the two police officers.
Both suspects were hit near their right eyes by the service firearms of the escorting police officers.
Police recovered 14 packs of shabu with an estimated street value of P14,000.00, a .45 caliber handgun and a machine pistol.
According to Police Senior Inspector Jojit Manangquil, Deputy Chief of the PIB of the BPPO, the suspects were tailed by the police after receiving intelligence reports that a big bulk of illegal drugs were slated to be disposed in the city.
The suspects checked in a hotel in the city on Wednesday where several persons visited their room. The two checked out the next day, as the police momentarily lost track but were tipped that the suspects took a room in a pension house in Tamblot St. Extension.
A buy bust operation was immediately set in motion that ended in the shooting of the suspects.
Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) of the BPPO are now gathering more evidence as of presstime.
Licong was in the watch list of drug personalities in the city. (Chito M. Visarra)