7 drug suspects killed, cop hurt in shootouts

MANILA, Philippines — Five suspected drug pushers were killed while a police officer was wounded in Batangas and Camarines Sur yesterday as the government continued its campaign against illegal drugs.

Erwin Llamarez, alias Mulawin, and Ezekiel Reyes were declared dead on arrival at the Metro Lipa Medical Center after they reportedly engaged police officers in a shootout in Barangay Inosluban, Lipa City at around 2 a.m.

Police Officer 3 Alexi Mendoza suffered a gunshot wound in his right foot and was taken to the same hospital for treatment.

Police said two caliber .45 pistols, a kilo of dried marijuana leaves and 10 sachets of shabu were recovered from the fatalities.

In Camarines Sur, Joselito Namia, a resident of Nabua town, and Eric Escolano of Naga City were shot dead when they reportedly drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents in Barangay Dolorosa at about 12:25 a.m.

Noel Morillo was killed when he reportedly shot it out with police officers who tried to arrest him in a drug bust in Barangay Pulang Daga, Balatan also in Camarines Sur at around 8:30 a.m.

In Bulacan, on Friday, Ronald Alcoriza and Rainer Alfonso were killed in alleged shootouts with anti-narcotics agents in Sitio Bacood and Baog, respectively, in Barangay Matimbo, both in Malolos. – Celso Amo, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Emmanuel Tupas