By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A man wanted on murder charges was killed after exchanging fire with police at Sitio Kawayan, Barangay Hacienda Fe, Escalante City, Monday evening.
Police identified the fatality as Jimboy Bucaling, a resident of the said barangay.
Escalante City police chief, Police Chief Inspector Rolly Pondevilla, said Bucaling had a pending arrest warrant that was issued against him by Judge Kathrine Go of the San Carlos City Regional Trial Court-Branch 59.
As police officers approached the suspect’s residence to present the warrant, Bucaling fled, prompting law enforcement to fire a warning shot and ordering him to stop.
The suspect entered a sugarcane plantation and, after a few minutes, reappeared and opened fire with a .38 caliber revolver.
Cops returned fire, hitting Bucaling in the buttocks and forcing him to retreat back into the plantation.
The suspect was later found lying unconscious on the ground.
Police rushed the suspect to the city’s district hospital, but was confirmed dead on arrival by hospital staff.
Pondevilla added, the remains will undergo autopsy, although he believes Bucaling’s cause of death was due to rapid blood loss./WDJ