2 drug suspects slain in Laguna buy-bust

SAN PEDRO CITY – Two suspected illegal drug pushers were killed in a shootout with the police in San Pedro City.

The slain men, Ranier Alcantara and Jhemer Ballenas, had just been released from detention early this year in Calamba City, Laguna also for drug charges, according to Supt. Giovannie Martinez, this city’s police chief.

In a text message Tuesday, Martinez said the regional drug enforcement unit and the city police conducted a buy-bust operation around 11 p.m. Monday along Landayan road in Barangay (village) Landayan.

The suspects opened fire after “sensing the presence” of policemen during the sale, he said. Both suspects were killed when the police retaliated.

Martinez said they recovered 16 sachets of suspected shabu (crystal meth) worth about P50,000.

They also found a .38 caliber gun and a hand grenade from the suspects. MARICAR CINCO