A former cop dismissed for suspected involvement in illegal drug activities was gunned down by police operatives during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Bil-isan, Panglao.

Former PO3 Rainero Estoque, tagged as the municipality’s number 3 drug personality, allegedly shot at apprehending police who conducted the operation near the suspect’s home.

Panglao police said that Estoque sensed that he sold suspected shabu worth P500 to an undercover cop prompting him to flee toward his home and start shooting at responding police posted near the operation area.

Operatives of the Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) and the Panglao police conducting the joint operation fired back at the suspect hitting him four times.

Estoque was rushed to the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City, but he was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians, said the Panglao police.

According to Senior Insp. Jomar Pomarejos, chief of the Panglao police, the suspect had already warned the police that he will fight off anti-drug operations conducted against him.

However, Estoque surrendered to municipal authorities through Oplan Tokhang but continued to peddle illegal drugs, Pomarejos said.

The police chief also blamed Estoque for the low number of Brgy. Bil-isan drug personalities who surrendered through Oplan Tokhang as the dismissed cop reportedly urged alleged pushers and users in the village to refrain from yielding to authorities.

He noted that immediately after the death of Estoque, drug personality’s in the village started to call the police station noting their impending surrender.

At the scene of the operation, police recovered a medium-sized pack of shabu, drug using and sorting paraphernalia, and the firearm used by Estoque, a .38 caliber revolver. (Willy Maestrado)