A drug suspect was gunned down by police operatives in a shootout in Inabanga which ensued after a drug buy-bust while two men escaped and one was arrested in the same operation on Wednesday afternoon.

Police identified the fatality as Rolly Peticio, a 50-year-old resident of Barangay Badiang, Inabanga who was also a suspect in a number of killings in the area.

According to Bohol police Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) chief Sr. Insp. Jojit Mananquil, the sting operation was set up against a “big-time” drug personality identified as Jose “Ayo” Vistal.

Vistal, however, was able to escape with an unidentified suspect.

In their report, police indicated that Vistal immediately ran towards his house after noticing that he was transacting with a poseur-buyer during the buy-bust along Sitio Bonbon in Barangay U-og, Inabanga.

As Vistal entered his house, he and two other men including Peticio reportedly leaped out of a window and fired multiple shots at the pursuing lawmen.

This led to a chase and a shootout between the police led by Mananquil and the three fleeing men who were able to reach a forest area 50 meters from Vistal’s house.

However, that was as farthest Peticio, who was armed with .38 revolver, reached as he was reportedly shot dead by the police while Vistal and the unidentified suspect escaped.

Prior to the chase, as the three suspects jumped out a window, one man identified as Chielunes Wahing, 22, was immediately cornered inside the said house.

He was allegedly caught in possession of a fully loaded KG9 submachine gun and several plastic sachets containing shabu.

According to Mananquil, the confiscated shabu weighed 10 grams and had an estimated street value of P100,000.

Charges for possession of illegal drugs and unauthorized possession of firearm will be filed against Wahing. (Weli Maestrado)