Zero deaths in Bulacan drug war since last week

MALOLOS, Philippines – There has been no reported death in anti-drug operations in Bulacan since 32 suspected drug pushers were killed in police operations on Aug. 15 and 16.

There were no armed encounters in recent police operations, but several suspects were arrested, Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director,  said yesterday.

Caramat said 10 were collared in stings in Pandi, San Ildefonso, Pulilan, Balagtas, Bustos and San Jose del Monte on Monday. He said 21 sachets of shabu were recovered from the suspects.

Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Central Luzon police director, ordered the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service office in the region to investigate the legitimacy of the operations in Bulacan last week amid concerns on the number of deaths.

Caramat admitted that the death toll in the operations, which coincided with the 439th anniversary of Bulacan, was the highest so far. He reiterated that he is ready to face any investigation.

Aquino said it should be established that the drug raids followed the rule of law and police operational procedure. 

2 drug suspects slain

Meanwhile, suspected drug pushers William Reyes, 39, a resident of Barangay Candelaria, Macabebe, Pampanga, and Martin Laxamana Jr. of Angeles City, Pampanga were killed in stings in their areas on Monday.

Guns, sachets of shabu, a weighing scale, marked money and drug paraphernalia were reportedly recovered from the fatalities.

Three other suspects were arrested in Gapan, Nueva Ecija and Subic, Zambales. Police said 21 sachets of shabu were recovered from the suspects.

P2-M shabu seized

In Cabanatuan City, 152 grams of shabu were recovered from Jerico de Guzman, 40, a resident of Barangay Aduas; 3.59 grams from Harold Harvey Cruz, 38, of Barangay Kapitan Pepe, and 13.29 grams from Jeric Dominguez, 25, also on Monday.

The seized drugs have an estimated street value of P2.02 million. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said a gram of shabu costs P12,000.

In Zamboanga, 191 sachets of shabu were recovered from 37 suspected drug pushers arrested over the weekend.

Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, Zamboanga peninsula police director, said three .45-caliber pistols, two .38-caliber revolvers, an improvised shotgun, a fragmentation grenade, a rifle and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the suspects. – Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu, Ding Cervantes, Roel Pareño