6 slain in Bulacan, Laguna drug busts

MANILA, Philippines — Six suspected drug pushers were killed in anti-drug operations in Bulacan and Laguna yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said two of the fatalities, who were identified only by their aliases of Jun and Bilog, drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents in Barangay Minuyan Proper, San Jose del Monte.

An alias Dodong allegedly engaged anti-narcotics agents in a shootout in Pandi. 

Police said an improvised gun, two .38-caliber revolvers and 15 sachets of shabu were recovered from the fatalities.

In Laguna, Wilfredo Calda and Rico Romana reportedly shot police officers who tried to arrest them in a drug sting in Barangay Diezmo, Cabuyao.

Ranil Ligpitan, alias Palo, was shot dead when he fired at a police officer who posed as a buyer of shabu in Barangay Parian, Calamba.

Senior Superintendent Eleazar Matta, Laguna police director, said the fatalities were members of the Tadeja gang, which is tagged in the illegal drug trade and robberies in the province.

Matta said the fatalities yielded a tricycle, guns and sachets of shabu. – Ed Amoroso