5 drug suspects found dead in Bulacan home

CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, BULACAN—Bodies of five people believed to be involved in illegal drugs were found on Thursday morning inside what police said was a drug den in Barangay San Pedro here.

Police Col. Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said the bodies were found by a neighbor around 6 a.m. at the living room of the apartment at Purok 4 in San Pedro.

All bodies bore bullet wounds, police said.

Only four of the fatalities were identified: Juliet Fernandez, Mel Diezel, Norberto Oden and Manuelito Bergonio.

Initial police investigation showed that the apartment, which was rented by Fernandez, was being used by several drug suspects in the area. Bersaluna said they were looking into a case of “double-cross” or conflict among drug dealers. He did not elaborate.

Police Col. Orlando Castil, San Jose del Monte police chief, said they were reviewing footage from the closed-circuit television in the area to give investigators clues on the assailants. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE