BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A drug suspect, who showed symptoms of COVID-19, successfully freed himself from La Union police custody at dawn Friday, after coughing at a police officer’s face.
Teofilo Doctolero Lopez, from San Isidro, Agoo town, was being escorted in a police vehicle for a medical checkup at the La Union Medical Center when he removed his mask and coughed several times in the face of Pat. Ronald Macalino, prompting the police escort to stop the vehicle and disinfect.
Lopez, caught for selling drugs last Saturday, took the chance to jump out of the vehicle and flee while Macalino washed his face and hands.
The driver of the police vehicle and Macalino chased Lopez but were not able to catch up with him.
Ilocos region police director Rodolfo Azurin vowed that they will track down the drug suspect.