Man dies in shootout with cops

A suspected drug pusher, who escaped from prison over a year ago, was killed in a shootout with operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) in Barangay Dayhagun, Medellin, Cebu yesterday morning.

Supt. Joie Yape Jr., PIB chief, identified the suspect as Kim Flores Imbento, who succumbed to gunshot wounds in the body. He said Imbento was a high-value target and a member of a criminal gang.

Yape said they retaliated at Imbento, after he fired at them first.

The PIB team served the warrant of arrest for drug charges, which was issued by Bogo City Regional Trial Court Branch 61 Judge Antonio Marigomen, when the alleged shootout happened.

Imbento was rushed to a public hospital, where he was declared dead at 7:20 a.m.

Several firearms were recovered during the operation, including two .45 pistols, a KG9 submachine gun, a .357 revolver, and a 9mm black widow, as well as 10 grams of suspected shabu worth P180,000.

Imbento, who was also an alleged gun-for-hire, escaped from the Medellin District Jail with three other inmates, who were also pushers, on Oct. 21, 2015.

They were Rene Benaro Solon, Alvic Arrabis Inot, and Joselito Pantaleon. Inot and Pantaleon were caught hours after their prison break.

PIB was assisted by the operatives from Regional Special Operations Group, Regional Intelligence Unit, Provincial Public Safety Company, and Medellin Police Station. /