2 cops, 4 other drug suspects slain in stings

MANILA, Philippines — Six drug suspects, two of them police officers, were killed in anti-drug operations in Zamboanga City, Laguna and Cavite in the past two days.

Police Officer 2 Ma. Oliver Olaso and PO3 Ronald Bernardo, both assigned with an anti-drug unit in Zamboanga City, shot it out with personnel of the Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in a sting in Barangay Ayala at about 3 p.m. yesterday, Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, Zamboanga peninsula police director said.

“The operation was legitimate. The CITF from Crame sought our help in pursuing their targets,” Beltran said.

Senior Superintendent Alan Nazarro said Olaso and Bernardo had been under surveillance for several months.

The families of Olaso and Bernardo denied allegations that the two police officers were involved in the illegal drug trade, noting that they even conducted an anti-drug operation in nearby Barangay Cawit yesterday morning.

In Laguna, Kevin Gerolao, alias Biboy, and Ahmad Rataban allegedly drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to a police officer who posed as a buyer in Barangay Mamatid, Cabuyao, on Friday.

Sachets of shabu weighing 25 grams with an estimated street value of P365,000 were reportedly recovered from the fatalities.

In Cavite, police said Jayson Matias fired at police officers in a drug sting in Barangay Putol, Kawit also on Friday.

Michael Salac reportedly shot anti-narcotics agents in Barangay Molino 4 yesterday.

Superintendent Vicente Cabatingan, Bacoor police chief, said Salac, who had a pending drug case, was among 22 inmates who escaped from a custodial facility in Bacoor last month. Sixteen of the escapees were recaptured.

Gang leader killed

In Bulacan, Brian Raga, alleged leader of a criminal gang, and his unidentified companion were killed in an alleged shootout with police officers serving a warrant of arrest for murder and carjacking at their hideout in Sitio Duplax, Barangay Kalawakan, Doña Remedios Trinidad yesterday.

An alleged cohort of the fatalities, Joel Bernales, was arrested.

Police said Raga’s gang was tagged in killings in San Ildefonso, nearby areas in Bulacan and Rizal.

A 9mm and two caliber .45 pistols, a shotgun and a sling bang, which contained a hand grenade, were reportedly recovered from the fatalities.

An alleged motorcycle thief, who has yet to be identified, was shot dead when he shot police officers in Barangay Pooc 1, Silang, Cavite on Friday night. – Roel Pareño, Ed Amoroso, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Raymund Catindig, Emmanuel Tupas

Meanwhile, Ariel Barcelon, 38, and Bernardo Daytom, 48, were arrested as they were about to deliver shabu in Rapu-Rapu, Albay on Friday, police said.

The suspects, who were intercepted on a motorized boat, reportedly yielded six sachets of shabu weighing 130 grams valued at P880,000.

“High-value” target Alimudin Baliwan was arrested by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) personnel at his hideout in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, also on Friday.

PDEA agents said Baliwan yielded sachets of shabu and a fragmentation grenade. – Ed Amoroso, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Raymund Catindig, Emmanuel Tupas