13 suspects killed in 24-hour Bulacan police operations

CAMP GEN ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan – Thirteen suspects were killed in gun battles with policemen who conducted a series of drug busts and other police operations from midnight on Tuesday (Mar. 20) to 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday (Mar. 21), according to a belated police report.

Killed were Limwell Vernales in Bocaue town; two suspects identified only as Joey and Joel in Bulakan town; Emmanuel Manicad in the City of Malolos; a suspect named Pakyaw in Plaridel town; a suspect known only as Jay-one in Pulilan town; and four unidentified suspects in the City of San Jose Del Monte.

Also reported killed were a suspect known only by the alias France Cortez in San Rafael town; Mario Alegre in Baliuag town and an unidentified man in Santa Maria town.

Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr., Bulacan police director, said the police conducted 57 buy bust operations; served 11 arrest warrants and enforced two search warrants, made an arrest at a checkpoint and responded to three complaints which led to the arrest of 109 suspects in various towns and cities.

Caramat said the police seized 305 pieces of heat-sealed transparent sachets containing over 101 grams of suspected shabu (crystal meth), and 59 sachets filled with 670 grams of marijuana.