Fatal drug buy-bust. (RADYO INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JONG MANLAPAZ)
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Three suspected illegal drug dealers were killed in a shootout with policemen in Trece Martires City in Cavite province on Tuesday night, police said on Wednesday.
Supt. Egbert Tibayan, Trece Martires police chief, said the firefight broke out at 10:30 p.m. in Barangay (village) San Agustin, when undercover policemen carried out a sting operation against Jose Bazarte, alias “Boche,” who was included in the local police’s drug watch list.
Tibayan said the suspect and his two companions must have realized they were dealing with policemen and drew their firearms.
He said Bazarte shot the policemen but missed, prompting policemen to retaliate.
Bazarte and his companions died instantly. Police, however, have yet to identify the other fatalities.
Police recovered three .38-cal. guns and four sachets containing suspected shabu (methamphetamine hyrdrochloride) from the slain suspects. SFM