3 drug suspects shot dead

MANILA, Philippines — Two drug suspects were slain in a drug sting in Bulacan while another was gunned down by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants in Isabela on Friday.

Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, identified one of the slain suspects as Arnold Alcaraz, alias Allan.

Bersaluna said Alcaraz and his companion fired at police officers who tried to arrest them after selling shabu to an undercover agent in Barangay Lawang Pare in San Jose del Monte.

Police said the fatalities yielded a caliber .38 revolver, an improvised shotgun and eight sachets of shabu.

Armando Pascual, 38, was waiting for his friends in a duck farm beside an irrigation canal in Barangay Rizal, Quirino, Isabela when he was shot.

Senior Inspector Rustom Ortiguero said Pascual was released on bail on a drug-related case last year.

Meanwhile, only one among 134 drivers of public utility vehicles in Cotabato City failed a drug test conducted by anti-narcotics and transport officials at bus terminals as part of the implementation of Undaspot from Oct. 29 to 31.

Juvenal Azurin, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao director, said the driver would be turned over to the Department of Health for rehabilitation and counseling.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said he would ask PDEA agents to facilitate random drug tests for drivers in various terminals in the province to ensure the safety of the commuting public. – Raymund Catindig, John Unson