Man wanted for “shooting” cops arrested in Balamban

CEBU, Philippines - A man wanted by authorities was arrested with a grenade and shabu worth over P100,000 last Wednesday in Barangay Cambuhawe, Balamban town.

Godofredo Estoce, 46, tried to escape but was eventually arrested. Seized from him were a fragmentation grenade and a pack of illegal drugs.

Estoce had a standing warrant of arrest for direct assault issued by Judge Jocelyn Regnecia of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court in Balamban-Asturias last October 2014.

Senior Police Officer 1 Jose Villarin of Balamban Police Station said a concerned citizen called them up and reported about the presence of the suspect, who was standing near a store holding a grenade.

Policemen responded to the area and saw the suspect, but the latter reportedly ran away upon seeing them.

But Estoce was eventually cornered inside a house and surrendered, said Villarin.

The police frisked the suspect and found from his possession a medium-size pack of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P110,000.

According to Villarin, Estoce is a known drug pusher who has been previously arrested for selling illegal drugs but was released after the case filed against him was dismissed.

Villarin said last year, they raided Estoce’s reported drug den, but the suspect and his cohorts opened fire at the police officers, thus the case for direct assault filed against the suspect.

Balamban police filed charges for violation of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against the suspect, who is now detained. — (FREEMAN)