Councilor’s son killed, 4 nabbed in drug sting

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — The son of a town councilor in Estancia, Iloilo was killed during a shootout with police authorities in an illegal-drug raid at 7:39 a.m. on Monday.

Thirty-one-year old Floyd Philipp Gealon, son of Councilor Jackielyn Gealon and resident of Botongan village, died after shooting it out with members of the Police Regional Special Operations Group and the Estancia Police Station.

The raiding police team, led by Chief Inspector Stephen Somosot, swooped down at the house of Lyndon Matta, Gealon’s uncle, at Barangay Bayuyan, armed with a search warrant issued by RTC-branch 66 Judge Rogelio Amador of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

Police report said that, “during the conduct of the operation, Gealon ran and, while being pursued, engaged the troops in a firefight.” Gealon was hit on the chest and rushed to the Jesus Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in Balasan town but was declared dead on arrival.

Recovered from Floyd’s possession was a .38-caliber revolver with two empty shells in its chamber. Seized during the raid at Matta's house were a homemade .38-caliber revolver with ammunition, a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, a .45-caliber pistol with magazine loaded with ammunition, five sachets of shabu, and drug paraphernalia.

The police also arrested Matta, who has reportedly been on Estancia’s watchlist of illegal drug personalities.

Three others were also caught during the raid: Levy Nuniza Almanon of Barangay Bayuyan; Edgar Bungcod Amene of Barangay Botongon; and Pablito Abenir of Barangay Batongon.

Charges for illegal possession of firearms and illegal drugs would be charged against Matta while the three would be slapped with a case for visiting a drug den.  (FREEMAN)