2 suspected drug pushers killed in clash with cops in Quezon

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Two suspected drug pushers were killed in a clash with policemen in Candelaria town in Quezon province on Tuesday afternoon, police said on Wednesday.

Senior Supt. Antonio Yarra, Quezon police director, said the suspects, Roberto Silva and Jessie Silva and an unidentified companion, fired at policemen who were about to serve search warrants in Barangay (village) Malabanban Sur around 1:30 p.m.

The suspects engaged policemen in a firefight as they tried to flee. The Silvas died in the gunfight while their companion escaped and fled toward a forested portion near a creek in the village, police said.

Seized from the slain suspects were two .45 cal. pistols, a shotgun, four plastic sachets containing dried leaves believed to be marijuana, and 12 plastic sachets of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth P74,000.

Police said Roberto Silva was among the high-value targets on the Quezon police’s drug watch list.

Silva, said to be the leader of the Morado gunrunning group, was the main suspect in the killing of PO1 Ramil Rodriguez in Candelaria town on Sept. 21.

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