4 drug suspects killed in Bulacan

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines — Four drug suspects were killed in separate incidents in Bulacan yesterday.

Two of the fatalities were identified as Vivencio Faustino, 37, and Jose Alberto Gesmundo, 40.

Faustino was shot dead by an unidentified assailant in Barangay Malipampang in San Ildefonso.

Gesmundo allegedly tried to resist arrest during a sting in Malolos City, according to Bulacan police director Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat.

 The third fatality, identified as alias Bato, allegedly traded shots with police officers in Pandi town.

Police recovered from Bato two plastic sachets said to contain of shabu, a gun and marked money.

The fourth fatality was found with his face covered with packing tape at a grassy lot in Barangay Taal, Bocaue town.

Catanduanes shabu lab probed

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II sent two prosecutors yesterday to Virac, Catanduanes where a shabu laboratory was discovered recently.

Aguirre said the prosecutors were sent upon the request of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Illegal Drugs Group.

“They will look into allegations that Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua is involved in illegal drugs,” Aguirre said

He hinted that National Bureau of Investigation regional director Eric Isidoro might have been relieved from his post for reportedly owning the property where the shabu laboratory was discovered.

“We are still waiting for confirmation as the information is still raw,” Aguirre said. – Ric Sapnu, Evelyn Macairan, Celso Amo, Francis Elevado, Ramon Efren Lazaro