4 killed in Bulacan drug busts

MALOLOS , Philippines — Four suspected drug dealers were killed in stings in Bulacan in the past two days.

Col. Lawrence Cajipe, Bulacan police director, identified the fatalities as Resty Rayo, Gwendel John Samaniego, Reynaldo Castillo Jr. and an alias Anten.

Cajipe said Rayo and Anten shot it out with anti-narcotics agents in Barangay Minuyan Proper in San Jose del Monte City; Samaniego in Barangay Gaya-gaya, also in San Jose del Monte, and Castillo in Capihan, San Rafael.

Two improvised shotguns, two. 38 caliber revolvers, sachets of shabu and a motorcycle were allegedly recovered from the fatalities.

Nine other drug suspects were arrested in Calumpit, Pulilan, San Rafael and Marilao. They reportedly yielded 10 sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and marked money.

In Benguet, anti-drug operatives seized 200 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P1.3 million in Barangay Catlubong, Buguias on Thursday.

Farmer Marson Ballusong, who was on the drug watchlist in the Cordilleras, was arrested.

Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. Rwin Pagkalinawan said drug traders could have slipped past checkpoints where there are no drug-sniffing dogs.- Artemio Dumlao