A notorious drug dealer was gunned down by police in Guindulman during a buy-bust operation which almost led to a shootout at 8 p.m. on Monday.

Police identified the fatality as 32-year-old Marcelo “Torco” Escarten, a resident of Barangay Lundag, Pilar, Bohol.

According to PO3 Ranulfo Aselo of the Guindulman police, their anti-narcotics operatives caught Escarten selling drugs to a poseur-buyer during the buy-bust in Barangay Tabajan, a known drug-infested village of the said town.

Aselo said that the suspect resisted arrest as he pulled out his .45 caliber pistol attempting to shoot at police who were about to arrest him.

However, Escarten was unable to pull the trigger as operatives were able to shoot and hit him first with multiple gunshots.

The suspect sustained gunshot wounds all over his body which caused his instantaneous death.

Scene of the Crime Operatives collected from the buy-bust area the suspect’s firearm and several packets of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.

According to Aselo, police on Friday raided Escarten’s home in Barangay Trinidad of the same town but the suspect evaded arrest as he was able to relocate prior to the operation.

Guindulman police initially speculated that Escarten had left the town but later on found out through intelligence reports that the suspect relocated and continued selling drugs in Sitio Punta, Brgy. Tabajan.

Police said that Escarten was a noted drug pusher and was listed seventh in Pilar town’s top newly identified drug personalities.

Based on records at the Pilar police station, Escarten was arrested for drugs last year in the town of San Miguel but was granted temporary liberty after posting bail.

Pilar police added that they had subjected Escarten to Oplan Tokhang but he refused to surrender.

Relatives of the suspect had also told police that Escarten once pronounced that he preferred death over being arrested by police. (Allen Doydora)

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