2 drug suspects slain in buy-bust ops in Nueva Ecija

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CABANATUAN CITY–Two suspected drug pushers were killed in separate anti-drugs operations in less than 20 hours in Nueva Ecija, police said.

Police Col. Leon Victor Rosete, chief of the Nueva Ecija police provincial office, on Sunday identified the suspects as Benjamin dela Merced of Aduas Sur and Noelito Balmeyo of Purok 2, Barangay Imelda in this city.

Rosete said Dela Merced was killed in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Canaan West, Rizal town at around 9:15 a.m. on Saturday while Balmeyo was killed in Barangay Baterya, Gabaldon at about 2:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Police said the suspects opened fired at anti-narcotics operatives after sensing they were dealing with undercover agents, prompting the policemen to shoot back.

Both suspects yielded a .38-caliber revolver each and several sachets of “shabu” (crystal meth). (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)