A suspected gun-for-hire and drug trader with five standing arrest warrants died Tuesday in an armed encounter with arresting policemen in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame, Quezon City said on Wednesday.
CIDG-Region 1 chief, Senior Supt. Amando Lagiwid, identified the slain suspect as Roger Sinco.
“Sinco was a remnant of the Sinco Group engaged in gun-for-hire and illegal drugs trade, and listed as the Regional Level Lambat Sibat Priority and Drug Personality Target,” Lagiwid said.
Before the encounter, the CIDG officer said, the arresting team went to the house of the suspect in Sition Padual, Barangay Pug-os before dawn to implement a search warrant.
But, he said, Sinco refused the conduct of the search and started to shoot the cops who fired back at him.
Lagiwid said Harry Savellano, Elyrey Agustin, Eric Savellano and Edgar Basuil were with Sinco during the encounter.
“Sinco sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to the Duero General Hospital, which declared him dead on arrival. However, Sinco’s group managed to escape arrest on two tricycles both without plate numbers,” the CIDG officer said.
Recovered from the crime scene were 15 cartridge cases, two loaded .45-caliber pistols, a loaded .38-caliber improvised gun (known in the vernacular as “paltik”), five sachets of suspected shabu, a magazine, assorted drug paraphernalia and a cellular phone.
Police records show that Sinco was wanted for violations of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act), direct assault upon agents of a person in authority with the use of loose firearms, and murder.