4 drug suspects killed; ‘double-cross’ eyed in one case

SAN PEDRO CITY, Laguna — Four people suspected by the police to be involved in the illegal drugs trade were killed in separate incidents in the cities of Sta. Rosa and Biñan in Laguna province on Monday and Sunday.

In Sta. Rosa, a man identified only as “Bakla” was gunned down by two men at 3:15 a.m. Monday in the coastal village of Sinalhan.

Supt. Giovannie Martinez, Sta. Rosa police chief, said villagers reported the shooting, prompting a police chase in the nearby village of Macabling.

Martinez said the suspects fired at policemen when they confronted them.

He said the suspects, one of them identified only by his alias, “Bonseng Bunganga,” died in the gunfight.

Martinez said both Bakla and the slain gunman were included in the police’s drug watch list in Sta. Rosa.

“We are looking into a possible ‘double cross.’ There seems to be a [conflict among these people],” he said.

In Biñan City, a man identified only as Marvin was killed in a drug bust in the village of Canlalay at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Police recovered half a kilogram of marijuana and shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) from the slain suspect.

Reports from the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) regional police showed 26 people were arrested in buy-bust operations in Laguna, Batangas, Cavite and Rizal on Sunday alone.

In Romblon province, at least 58 drug suspects have surrendered to the police since July 7, said Senior Supt. Juan Añonuevo, provincial police director.  SFM/rga