Cops kill 8 drug suspects

MANILA, Philippines — Six suspected drug pushers were killed in police operations in Batangas and Laguna yesterday.

Two others were slain in drug busts in Albay and Butuan on Tuesday.

Rudy, Roland and Rico, all surnamed Francisco, Arian Hernandez and Scoth Pacia fired at police officers serving a search warrant at their hideout in Sitio Palakulan, Barangay Wawa, Nasugbu at around 5:50 a.m., Senior Superintendent Edwin Quilates, Batangas police director, said.

A certain Eva and an alias Eric were arrested.

The fatalities were on the drug watchlist and members of a robbery gang operating in Calabarzon, police said.

A caliber .45 pistol, two caliber .38 revolvers, a .22 Magnum and a hand grenade were reportedly recovered from the fatalities.

In Butuan, Jomar Cuevas, 33, a resident of Purok 4, Barangay Obrero, was shot dead when he drew his gun when he sensed he had sold shabu to police officers who posed as buyers in  Purok 1, Barangay Bading. 

Inspector Jayward Dulatre, Butuan police chief, said Cuevas was on the drug watchlist and surrendered under Oplan Tokhang in 2016.

However, the relatives of Cuevas said he was no longer into illegal drugs, adding that he did not own a gun. 

Dismissed police officer Alvin Esperos, 45, and Abet Barillo reportedly shot it out with anti-narcotics agents in Jovellar, Albay and Tanay, Rizal, respectively. 

Police said they recovered sachets of shabu and the guns used by the suspects.

Meanwhile, police have yet to determine if the killing of Edward Serrano and Renato Gamba in Bacoor, Cavite after midnight yesterday were drug-related.

The victims were standing in front of a guard house at a subdivision in Barangay San Nicolas when unidentified motorcycle-riding men opened fire. – Emmanuel Tupas, Ed Amoroso, Celso Amo, Ben Serrano