2 pushers killed in drug bust

Two alleged drug peddlers were killed in a shootout with police during a buy-bust operation in Sta. Cruz, Manila, Thursday night.

Police identified the slain suspects as Anthony Libanto, around 30 years old, a resident of Tuazon Street, Sampaloc, Manila; and Renante Jorolan, around 55 years old, of Sta. Cruz, Manila. They were both members of Sigue-Sigue Sputnik Gang.

Investigation showed that Sta. Cruz police operatives and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents conducted a buy-bust operation against the two suspects inside a two-storey house on Quiricada Street corner lpil Street in Sta. Cruz at about 7:45 p.m., Thursday.

An undercover operative purchased ₱500 worth of shabu from Libanto.

After realizing that he was being entrapped, Libanto fired shots at the police and ran along an alley towards their house. The cops returned fire, hitting the suspect as he hid inside his house.

Moments later, Jorolan came out of the room, which was about two meters away from the police, and shot them but missed.

Police retaliated, wounding Jorolan inside the room.

The suspects were rushed to Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center but they were both declared dead on arrival.

Seized from the suspects in the hospital were eight sachets of suspected shabu and P500 cash used as buy-bust money.