Drug war: 2 slain in Bulacan, Camarines Sur councilor arrested

MANILA, Philippines — Two more drug suspects were killed in police operations in Bulacan yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said the suspects, one of them identified as Rommer Marquez, were shot dead when they resisted arrest in stings in Barangay San Jose, Baliwag and Pulong Gubat, Balagtas.

Bersaluna said 16 sachets of shabu, two .38 caliber revolvers and a motorcycle with no license plate were recovered from the fatalities. 

Bersaluna said 16 sachets of shabu, two sachets of dried marijuana leaves and marked money were also recovered from seven suspects in stings in San Jose del Monte, San Rafael, Plaridel, Calumpit and Balagtas.

In Camarines Sur, Randy Texon, councilor of Lagonoy town, was arrested after sachets of shabu were reportedly recovered in a raid on his house in Barangay San Isidro on Wednesday night.

Police said Texon is the top drug personality in the town.

Meanwhile, in Batangas, Jerwin de Ocampo allegedly shot it out with police officers serving a warrant of arrest in Barangay Balibago, Lian at around 6:30 a.m. yesterday.

Police said the fatality was a member of a gun-for-hire gang operating in Balayan, Lian and Calatagan towns.

Cocaine tipsters get reward

As this developed, two residents of Caraga town in Davao Oriental will receive P30,000 each for providing information that led to the recovery of 36 cocaine bricks with an estimated value of P215 million last week.

Art Benjie Bulaong, Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council office and provincial administrator, said they agreed to give reward money to informants to encourage residents to support the government’s anti-drug campaign.

At least 10 recoveries of cocaine bricks from the country’s beaches have been reported since January. –Ed Amoroso, Emmanuel Tupas, Edith Regalado