4 drug suspects slain in Tarlac, Nueva Vizcaya

MANILA, Philippines – Three drug suspects tagged in a series of robberies were killed in an alleged firefight with police officers in Tarlac City, while another was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in Nueva Vizcaya over the weekend.

Probers have yet to verify the identities of the slain suspects, who were allegedly on the drug list of the city police, according to Tarlac police acting director Senior Superintendent Westrimundo Obinque.

A village official informed the police about the presence of three armed men in a school compound in Barangay Aguso yesterday morning.

The armed men allegedly shot at the responding police officers, triggering a firefight that resulted in their deaths.

Police recovered from the scene of the encounter two .38 caliber revolvers, two plastic sachets said to contain shabu, bullet shells, a motorcycle, two DVD players, two computer printers, a computer monitor and an amplifier.

Obinque said the suspects reportedly robbed several schools in Tarlac.

Meanwhile, in Nueva Vizcaya, Frats Winter Tan, 38, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in Bambang town on Friday.

Tan ranked sixth on the drug list of the provincial police before he surrendered to police officers during Oplan Tokhang, according to Chief Inspector Rafael Cabonatilla, Bambang police chief.

Tan was talking to a friend when he was shot in Barangay Buag. He was declared dead on arrival at the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital.

Cabonatilla said Tan allegedly continued with his illegal drug activity even after he surrendered to police.

Tan was the second drug suspect to be killed in Bambang and fifth  in the province since July 1.