2 suspected drug pushers slain in Cavite buy-busts

LUCENA CITY –– Two suspected drug personalities were killed in separate buy-bust operations that ended in armed encounters in Cavite province.

Police Colonel Marlon Santos, Cavite police chief, in a statement on Monday afternoon, said Mark Anthony Lagos was killed in an operation in Bacoor City while Manuel Cayas was slain in Gen. Trias City during the overnight anti-criminality campaign conducted from Sunday to Monday.

The police said Lagos was also a member of a robbery group based in Bacoor City.

The report did not provide details about the buy-bust operations that allegedly led to armed encounters.

The latest drug-related deaths in Cavite rose to 10 in three days.

On Sunday, Jan. 24, the police reported that five suspected drug pushers were also killed in armed encounters during buy-bust operations in Imus City and Rosario and Naic towns.

On Saturday, three alleged drug pushers were also killed in the shootouts that ensued from buy-bust operations in Gen. Trias City, Bacoor City, and General Mariano Alvarez town.

A report said 19 suspected drug pushers were collared in 15 buy-bust operations in the province and seized 82 plastic sachets of shabu (crystal meth) and three sachets dried marijuana leaves.

The report did not specify the volume of confiscated illegal drugs.

The police also arrested 48 alleged illegal gamblers during the simultaneous operations.

LZB