A suspected drug pusher was gunned down in what police said was a shootout in Barangay Basdiot, Moalboal town, 88.2 kilometers south of Cebu City, past 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Joselito Tapales, 39, suffered gunshot wounds on his chest and arm, said Insp. Ian Macatangay of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG), in a radio interview.
He was rushed to the district hospital in Badian town but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Macatangay said an undercover policeman transacted with Tapales, an alleged prominent drug personality in Moalboal.
When the suspect noticed that he was dealing with a policeman, he pulled out his .45 caliber pistol, prompting the operatives to shot him.
Recovered from Tapales’ possession were two .45 caliber pistols and packs of shabu worth P700,000.