Rowell Sumugat
  • Sex: Male
Incident Details
  • Killed in police operation in public
  • Date of Incident: March 22, 2018
  • Time of Incident: 11:21 pm
  • Location of Incident: Hamtic, Antique
Source(s)

A PERSON who allegedly peddled drugs in Antique nightspots was killed in another anti-narcotics operation late evening of March 20, 2018.

Rowell Sumugat, 33, a resident of Barangay Baladjay, San Remegio, Antique, allegedly resisted policemen during the buy-bust operation at Barangay Bia-an, Hamtic town.

A native of Compostela Valley in Davao del Norte, Sumugat had been staying in San Remegio town with his second wife.

Joint operatives of the Antique Police Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), Antique Police Mobile Force Company (PFMC), and Hamtic Police Station conducted surveillance operations on the suspect after receiving information that he was selling drugs in several bars and nightspots in the province.

Senior Inspector Marc Dado of Antique PDEU said they learned that Sumagat had been “dropping” drugs in four bars in San Jose town, two in Sibalom, and another in Hamtic.

Before the operation at around 11:21 p.m. Tuesday, the suspect allegedly came from a bar in Hamtic town proper where they initially agreed to hold the transaction. But he later changed venue along the highway at Bia-an village.

Police Officer 3 (PO3) Oliver Villanueva, Hamtic police investigator, said the transaction was completed after a police poseur-buyer bought a sachet of suspected shabu for P500.

When the police poseur-buyer was about to arrest Sumugat, the latter allegedly pulled a caliber .38 revolver and ran towards an irrigation canal.

The suspect managed to fire his gun thrice before he was shot by the cops. He succumbed to two gunshot injuries on his chest and abdomen.

LOVER-CUM-PUSHER

Sumugat alleged connived with bar workers to gain access to several nightspots and sell drugs.

“In fact, he had a girlfriend in each of the seven bars. So, he managed to maintain eight women at once,” Dado said.

The investigators also learned that all women associated with Sumugat had a sudden change in their lifestyles.

“Nakakabili na ng alahas, motor, at iba pang bagay na hindi naman nila nabibili before,” Dado added.

Police investigators were also surprised when they found pornographic photos and videos on the suspect’s mobile phone.

“Walang masyadong makitang matino sa cellphone nya. Halos lahat pornographic,” Dado said.

FOURTH FATALITY

Sumugat is the fourth fatality in Antique in over a month after the PNP intensified its campaign against illegal drugs.

The latest fatality prior to Sumugat was Aldrich Encarnacion, 36, of Barangay Maybato North, San Jose, Antique, who was also killed after trading shots with anti-narcotics police operatives on March 12, 2018.

Sumugat is the 39th fatality since the start of the PNP’a Project Double Barrel in July 2016.