Suspect, who escaped from cops after coughing at them, rearrested


AGOO, La Union – A drug suspect, who was able to escape from policemen after he coughed at them following a routine medical checkup here, was rearrested in Baguio City Tuesday, November 17.

Teofilo Doctolero Lopez, 25, a resident of Barangay San Isidro here, was captured anew in Middle Quirino Hill in Baguio City by personnel of the Agoo Police Station, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Baguio, Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) Station 2, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Lopez had earlier been caught selling illegal drugs in a buy-bust operation here.

He was then taken to the La Union Medical Center for protocol medical check-up.

After the medical procedure, Lopez was taken back to the patrol car by his police escorts. Once inside the patrol car, the suspect removed his face mask and started coughing at his police escorts, who instinctively reacted by protecting themselves from any contamination.

That was all the distraction that Lopez needed as he was able to jump out of the patrol car, and make good his escape.