CABANATUAN CITY—Two separate drug buy-bust operations in Nueva Ecija province turned deadly, leading to the killing of two suspects, according to police.
Col. Marvin Joe Saro, Nueva Ecija police director, identified the slain suspects as Rogel Barlis and Allan Martinez who died hours apart.
Saro said Barlis was killed in the police operation at the village of Poblacion, San Isidro town around 11 p.m. on Thursday (Sept. 17).
Police recovered from Barlis a .45-caliber pistol, a .38-caliber revolver, a sachet of suspected shabu, or crystal meth, and a motorcycle.
Martinez died on the spot in another buy-bust operation at the village of San Miguel, Quezon town around 2:30 a.m. on Friday (Sept. 18).
Police recovered Martinez’s 9mm pistol and a sachet of meth.
Eighteen other drug suspects were arrested in the province within 24 hours, police said.