MANILA, Philippines — Five suspected drug dealers were killed in alleged shootouts with police officers in separate incidents in Central Luzon on Wednesday.
Col. Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said an alias Roel resisted arrest and fired at police officers in Barangay San Roque in Angat town.
Bersaluna said eight other drug suspects were arrested in simultaneous anti-drug operations in Norzagaray, Obando, San Ildefonso, Calumpit, Bustos, Pulilan and Hagonoy.
Reports reaching the office of Central Luzon police director Brig. Gen. Joel Napoleon Coronel identified the other fatalities as Manny de Guzman, a resident of San Josef Norte, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; Alfredo Nangayan, 54, of San Agustin, Victoria, Tarlac; Renman Baluyut of Telabastagan, San Fernando, Pampanga; Qurino Cruz, 46, of Poblacion, Gerona, Tarlac and a certain JR of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
Police said sachets of shabu and the guns used by the suspects were recovered.
Emergency responders
Meanwhile, in Cagayan Valley, Brig. Gen. Mario Espino, regional police director, said they are coordinating with the Office of Civil Defense to train around 8,000 former drug personalities, who surrendered under Oplan Tokhang, to become emergency responders.
Espino said the training is an opportunity for former drug suspects to become useful members of the society.
The plan was hatched during a recent drug summit in Isabela. A similar event was held in Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and Santiago City. – Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig