Body of drug suspect found floating in San Remigio

A body of a man with a gunshot wound in the forehead was found floating in the seawaters of Sitio Patag, Barangay Argawanon, San Remigio town, northern Cebu at 8 a.m. yesterday.

Three fishermen — Rey Paimalan, Pedro Lacson and Ramil Languido — discovered the dead body, according to Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Senior Supt. Clifford Gairanod.

Gairanod said that based on the report from the San Remegio Police, the body sustained a single gunshot wound to the forehead and was initially identified as Joselito Abrao Pantaleon alias Dandan, 31, of Purok Agbate, Barangay Hagnaya, San Remigio.

Pantaleon reportedly escaped from prison in Medellin town in October 2015. He was jailed for allegedly peddling illegal drugs.

The San Remegio Police said in their report that Pantaleon might have been hit during the buy-bust operation last Monday at 11 a.m. in Sitio Patag wherein an alleged shootout occurred.

The drug operation has resulted to the arrest of at least six persons, but the main subjects, Ruben Precillas Dabucol and Rico Precillas Dabucol, who are between 30 to 35 years old, were able to escape. The Dabucol brothers are considered level 2 drug pushers in the area who can dispose up to 200 grams of alleged shabu in a week, said Senior Insp. Stephen Amamag-id, chief of the San Remigio Police who led the buybust operation.

Seven small packs of alleged shabu worth P4,000, drug paraphernalia, .357 caliber revolver with one bullet, two tricycles and seven motorcycles were seized during that operation, said P03 Dante Teaño of the San Remegio Police Station.

Teaño said those who escaped, jumped into the sea. He, however, refused to confirm that Pantaleon was hit during the encounter.

Those arrested were Rosilo Ando Metante, 40; Aldwin Alburo, 44; Archie Servilla, 30; Dave Masuangat, 21; all from Bogo City; and Jonjie Garcia, 32 and Nacinceno Armero, 31, of Barangay Maño, San Remegio.

Amamag-id said that the Dabucol brothers hail from Masbate, but are temporarily residing in the area to avoid authorities there because of their illegal drug activity.

Meanwhile, Gairanod appealed to families who have missing member to check the body of the man, who was found dumped along the national highway of Balud, San Fernando at 4 a.m. on Monday.

The body, placed inside a garbage bag and wrapped with packaging tape, has yet to be claimed by his relatives at the Tupaz Funeral Homes in Carcar City.

Two motorcycle-riding men discovered the body and reported it to the police. A bondpaper with a message “Tulisan ko DU30” was placed on his body. Gairanod said it is possible that the victim was killed in other place.

Chief Insp. Richard Gadingan, chief of the San Fernando Police Station, said they already coordinated with other police stations to check of possible missing person in their area. The victim had shoulder-length hair, between 40-50 years old, and estimated to be 5’4 in height. He was wearing a bra, olive green blouse and black pants.