7 slain in Bulacan, Batangas drug stings

MALOLOS – Six more drug suspects were killed in simultaneous anti-drug operations in Bulacan on Wednesday night and yesterday morning. 

Jessie Vasquez, alias Gapo, and Benjamin Sarmiento alias Pogi, were killed in stings in this city; an alias Pilay in San Rafael, Jeffrey Santiago in Bocaue, an alias Malik in Pulilan and Caloy Calunod in Sta. Maria. 

Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, acting Bulacan police director, said the suspects shot it out with anti-drug operatives.

Bersaluna said 25 sachets of shabu, sachets of marijuana, a tricycle, a motorcycle, marked money and guns were recovered from the fatalities. 

He said 42 other suspects were arrested and yielded 62 sachets of shabu, four sachets of marijuana, nine guns, ammunition and marked money.

Gerween Abla, alias But-choy, allegedly fired at anti-narcotics agents in Barangay Calingatan, Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas at around 6:31 a.m.

Police said Abla was on the town’s drug watchlist.

Meanwhile, police are monitoring nine barangay captains in Calabarzon for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Citing a report of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, regional police director, said six of these barangay officials are in Batangas, two in Cavite and one in Rizal. – Ed Amoroso, Emmanuel Tupas