7 drug suspects killed; P3.7-M shabu seized

Seven more drug suspects were killed in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs in three provinces in Luzon in the past two days.

Col. Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said Orland Monticalbo and his unidentified cohort shot it out with police officers who posed as buyers of shabu in a sting in Barangay Tingkong Mangga, Malolos City at around 1:50 a.m. yesterday.

Bersaluna said 29 other suspects were arrested in simultaneous anti-drug operations in San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Bustos, Hagonoy, Marilao, Bocaue and San Ildefonso.

Also yesterday, Romeo Garcia, Jimmy de Jesus and an alias Teklo allegedly engaged police officers in shootouts in Barangay Abar First, San Jose City; San Jose, Cabanatuan City, and Rizal, Science City of Muñoz, all in Nueva Ecija.

In Quezon, Jerry Taburdan, 36, and his brother Benjie resisted arrest and fired at anti-narcotics agents in Barangay Ibabang Iyam in Lucena City at around 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Police said sachets of shabu, marked money and the guns used by the slain suspects were recovered.

In Batangas, police said ”highvalue” drug pusher Dolores Naig and four of her couriers were arrested in simultaneous drug busts in Barangay Pallocan West and Alangilan in Batangas City and Darasan, Tanauan.

Capt. Hazel Luma-ang-Suarez, Batangas police spokesperson, said Naig supplies illegal drugs not only in Batangas but also in certain areas in Cavite, Laguna and Mindoro.

In Lanao del Sur, P3.7 million worth of shabu were seized from Mohammad Timan in Malabang town on Wednesday.

Juvenal Azurin, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency- Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao director, said the operation was carried out with the assistance of the 5th Marine Battalion, BARMM police and provincial government.