A SUSPECT was killed and three others eluded arrest following a joint police anti-criminality operation in Calubian, Leyte Thursday, April 8, 2021.

The fatality was identified as Nicholas “Botoy” Ybañez, a resident of Ormoc City and tagged as a high-value drug target.

The three others who escaped during the operation were Marlon Mendoza, a resident of Calubian who was accused of frustrated murder; alias Toto Mahinay, of legal age; and Charlie Mahinay, of legal age and resident of Calubian.

Police said that while they were serving a warrant of arrest against Mendoza around 5:50 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Anislagan, Calubian, the suspects suddenly fired to the operating units using unknown caliber of firearms.

Authorities returned fire and hit Ybañez, causing his instantaneous death, according to the information released by the Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas.

Police are conducting a hot pursuit operation against the fleeing suspects. (SunStar Philippines)