Bulacan drug war: 2 dead, 15 arrested

MANILA, Philippines — Two persons were killed in a drug bust in Bulacan on Friday night.

Jose Mendoza, alias Pong, and an alias Archie engaged police officers in a shootout in Barangay Kaybanban, San Jose del Monte, Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said. 

Bersaluna said two caliber .38 revolvers and 11 sachets of shabu were recovered from the fatalities. 

He said 15 other drug suspects were arrested in anti-drug operations in San Jose del Monte, Meycauayan, Malolos, Bocaue, Calumpit, Plaridel, Bulakan, San Rafael, Guiguinto and Hagonoy. 

The suspects reportedly yielded 32 sachets of shabu, three sachets of marijuana and marked money.       

Rex Borrinaga, an alleged member of the Burdado robbery and gun-for-hire gang, reportedly shot it out with police officers in Barangay Isabang, Tayabas.

Police officers patrolling the area said they chanced upon Borrinaga and his companion with guns tucked into their waistbands.  Borrinaga’s companion managed to escape.

The Quezon police said Burdado gang was behind robberies in the city.

2 slain in shootings

Meanwhile, a man who has yet to be identified was shot dead in Barangay Centro West, Ballesteros, Cagayan at around 4:30 p.m. also on Friday. Witnesses said men who alighted from a Toyota Hilux shot the victim. 

In Isabela, villagers found the bullet-riddled body of George Dangpalan in a vacant lot in Barangay San Felipe, Ilagan City.

Superintendent Rafael Pagalilauan, Ilagan police chief, said the victim was a resident of Santiago City.

Police are investigating the killings. – Raymund Catindig, Romina Cabrera