4 suspects slain in shootings

Two alleged drug dealers and two suspected carjackers were killed in separate incidents in La Union, Rizal and Batangas yesterday.

Nielo Baltazar, kagawad of Barangay Poblacion in Tubao town, was in his Toyota Vios parked in front of his house when he was shot at around 6:20 a.m.

Police said Baltazar was a member of the Amang drug ring operating in La Union and a known drug pusher in Tubao.

A man who has yet to be identified fired at police officers who responded to reports that a group of men were holding a drug session in Barangay San Isidro, Antipolo City at about 3:30 a.m., Senior Superintendent Lou Evangelista, Rizal police director, said.

Seven companions of the fatality, four of them minors, were arrested.

In Batangas, Cristopher Macalalad and his unidentified companion were killed in an alleged shootout with police officers in an entrapment in Barangay Lanatan, Balayan at about 2:30 a.m.

Senior Superintendent Edwin Quilates, Batangas police director, said the suspects drew their guns when they sensed they had sold a stolen motorycle to police officers who posed as buyers.

Quilates said a caliber .38 revolver, a caliber .22 pistol and a motorcycle were recovered from the fatalities.

In Cavite, businesswoman Josephine Lazarte, 36, and two of her vendors, aged 16 and 17, were arrested in a raid on her store in Barangay Zapote 4, Bacoor on Wednesday.

At least 47 sachets of shabu with an estimated street value of P300,000 stashed in stuffed toys were confiscated, Superintendent Vicente Cabatingan, Bacoor police chief, said.

Cabatingan said they received information that Lazarte is selling shabu at the market.