4 drug suspects dead in Rizal encounters

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

SAN PEDRO CITY, Laguna — Four drug pushing suspects were killed in separate encounters with policemen in Rizal province on Sunday, police said on Monday.

In Taytay town, a suspected drug pusher, identified only as Dodong Awa, died in a shootout with members of the Rizal police’s intelligence unit at 12:10 p.m. in Barangay Sta. Ana.

Senior Insp. Maria Lourdes Usana, provincial police information officer, said Awa fired at policemen during a buy-bust operation, forcing lawmen to retaliate.

In Cainta town, three drug pushing suspects were also killed in a firefight with policemen in Sitio Bagong Silang, Barangay San Juan at 6 a.m.

Usana said police served an arrest warrant against Jojo Parado when he and his companions resisted and started firing at the law enforcers.

She said the police recovered three guns and drug paraphernalia from the slain suspects.

As of Monday, 38 drug pushing suspects had died in encounters with the Rizal police amid the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs. At least 2,569 drug pushers and users in the province had turned themselves in to authorities, police records showed.

In Romblon province, 561 drug suspects had surrendered to authorities since July 1, said Senior Supt. Juan Añonuevo, provincial police director.  SFM/rga