Palace vows impartial probe into Bulacan raids

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has assured the public of an impartial probe into the drug raids in Bulacan on Monday that left 32 suspects dead.   

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the deaths were not the result of a single action, but simultaneous operations against drug offenders in the province. 

”Local authorities were met with violent resistance as evidenced by the recovery of firearms, grenades and live ammunition,”  Abella said.

President Duterte lauded police operatives involved in the operations, saying they should kill more suspects to end the drug problem in the country.

Cop hurt

Amid criticisms, a police official said they also suffered a casualty in the raids.

Police Officer 2 Benjie Enconado of the Norzagaray drug enforcement unit was hit in the left arm during the operation in Barangay Matictic, Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director said yesterday.

Caramat said an alias Arnod and his unidentified companion were killed in the encounter.

The Commission on Human Rights expressed concern on the number of deaths, which Caramat admitted was the highest in the province. A total of 107 drug suspects were also arrested in the operations.

Caramat said they are open to any investigation into the legitimacy of the operations. The Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service will also conduct a probe as a matter of procedure.

2 drug suspects slain

Meanwhile, two more drug suspects were killed and two others wounded in Rizal and Pampanga on Wednesday.

A man identified only as Tan-Tan and his companion Angie Nalisa, 20, were standing along Imelda Avenue  in Barangay San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal when a motorcycle pulled over and one of the riders opened fire.

Nalisa was hit in the left foot and taken to the Cainta Municipal Hospital for treatment.

Responding Scene of the Crime Operatives said they recovered a sachet of shabu from the coin purse of the victim.

Jerome Dalusung, a  resident of Barangay San Nicolas 2nd in Magalang, Pampanga, tried to escape and shot it out with anti-drug operatives who posed as buyers of shabu, said Senior Superintendent Joel Consulta, Pampanga police acting director.

Dalusung’s companion Alvin Magcalas, 26, was wounded.

In Albay, police still have no leads in the killing of a barangay captain also on Wednesday.   

Unidentified men shot Oscar Jetomo in Barangay Marinas in Legazpi  at around 8:45 p.m.  – With Non Alquitran, Celso Amo, Ric Sapnu