Another suspected drug peddler was shot dead this afternoon in an alleged shootout with police operatives in Moalboal, a tourist town 89.3 kilometers south of Cebu City.
Nicanor Gabate, 52, first fired at the Moalboal police operatives during an anti-drug operation in Barangay Tomonoy of the town at past noon today, according to PO1 Wilfredo Rosal of the Moalboal police.
Rosal said a team of policemen were approaching the hideout of Gabate in Barangay Tomonoy when the latter rushed out of the house and fired shots at the policemen, prompting the law enforcers to fire back. Hitting Gabate four times.
Gabate, who was wounded in the different parts of his body, was declared dead on arrival at the district hospital in the adjoining town of Badian at 1:30 p.m. today.
Rosal said police operatives recovered from Gabate’s possession two small sachets of white crystalline believed to be shabu (methamphetamine) and a .38 caliber pistol with two live ammunitions. Police also recovered from Gabate’s hideout a medium pack of shabu, some drug paraphernalia and around P1,000 in cash.