Town dad’s son killed in drug sting

ILOILO CITY , Philippines – A municipal councilor’s son was killed in an anti-drug operation in Estancia, Iloilo early this week.

Cloyd Philipp Gealon, 31, reportedly exchanged fire with police officers who raided the house of his uncle, Lyndon Matta, in Barangay Bayuyan on Monday.

The raid on Matta’s residence was based on a warrant issued by Judge Rogelio Amador of Barotac Viejo, according to Chief Inspector Stephen Somosot, chief of the police regional special operations group.

Reports said Gealon, whose mother is a member of the municipal council, tried to escape and engaged pursuing officers in a firefight.

Gealon was declared dead on arrival at the Jesus Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in nearby Balasan town due to a gunshot to the chest.

The raid also resulted in the arrest of Matta, said to be included in the Estancia police’s drug list.

The raiding team recovered a homemade caliber .38 revolver, a shotgun, a .45 caliber pistol, five plastic sachets said to contain shabu and drug paraphernalia from Matta’s house.

Aside from Matta, three other persons – identified as Levy Almanon, Edgar Amene and Pablito Abenir –were arrested in the raid.