A suspect in the killing of a barangay captain in Lapu-Lapu City was one of the two men killed in a shootout with police in Buenavista town, Bohol province last Wednesday morning.
Killed were Roland Bentillo, 31, and Fortunato Demil, 51.
Police also arrested 19-year-old Edwin Martorillas, who was caught in Bentillo’s house with nine packs of suspected shabu.
The three men were allegedly members of a gun-for-hire group, said Chief Insp. Alvin Futalan, deputy chief of the intelligence branch of the Bohol provincial police.
Futalan said they received information that Bentillo was one of the suspects in the killing of Agus barangay captain Jovito Lauron, who was gunned down in Clarin town last month.
Futalan said police monitored the three men for two weeks due to reports that they were keeping firearms.
Operatives of the provincial police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bohol, Clarin Police Station and Bohol Provincial Public Safety Company went to barangay Overland around 9 a.m. to implement a search warrant at the house of Bentillo.
The warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Susimo Arcamo of Branch 47 in Tagbilaran City.
Police said when the three men noticed their presence, they opened fire on the lawmen and tried to flee through the backdoor of the house.
A chase ensued until the two men were killed in the exchange of gunfire.
Police said .45 caliber pistols were recovered from the suspects.
Police said the seized firearms will be examined to check if they had been used in other shooting incidents.