5 dead in Luzon drug war

MANILA, Philippines — Five drug suspects were killed in drug busts in Luzon in the past two days.

Reports reaching Camp  Olivas identified three of the fatalities as Juanito Reyes and Rhandel Ignacio of Barangay San Juan, Aliaga and San Juan, Cabanatuan City, both in Nueva Ecija, and Harvey Escoto of San Jose, San Fernando, Pampanga.

Col. Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said Joe Deocareza shot it out with anti-narcotics agents in Barangay Gumaok East, San Jose del Monte.

In Pangasinan, Col. Redrico Maranan, provincial police acting director, said Joseph Fernandez fired at police officers who posed as buyers of shabu in Barangay Poblacion, Binmaley.

Police said sachets of shabu, marked money and the guns used by the fatalities were recovered. – Ramon Efren Lazaro, Eva Visperas