SAN PEDRO CITY, Philippines—Two suspected illegal drug traders died in a shootout with policemen during a buy bust operation in Biñan City, Laguna province early Friday, police said.
One of the slain suspects was identified only as “Tunting.”
Insp. Roselle Orate, Laguna police information officer, said the police set up a sting operation in Barangay (village) Malaban to arrest the suspects at 6:30 a.m.
However, while the transaction was underway, someone suddenly shouted, “Pulis yan (They are cops)!” prompting the suspects to run and seek refuge in a house in the village, Orate said.
She said the suspects fired at the policemen, prompting the latter to retaliate.
The police recovered a shotgun and a .38 cal. pistol from the house where the slain suspects hid. Police also found shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and a still undetermined amount of cash.
Police said Tunting, one of the slain suspects, was a member of a gang involved in the trade of illegal drugs in Biñan. The group is led by a certain Cris Peña, it said. RAM/rga
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