One dead per hour in Bulacan

CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, BULACAN—In a span of 12 hours, 11 drug suspects were killed on Wednesday in clashes with policemen during simultaneous operations in the province, the Bulacan police chief said on Thursday.

At least 44 other suspects had been arrested.

Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat, acting Bulacan police director, said the fatalities all fought back as police tried to effect arrests during the serving of warrants or buy bust operations.

The number of fatalities was the highest in a day of police operation, and brought to 150 the number of drug suspects slain in Bulacan since July when the government launched a massive war on drugs.

In Bocaue town, police killed Salvador Surban who allegedly fought back during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Duhat at 5 a.m. At 11:35 a.m., Romnick Cruz was killed in another operation in Barangay Batia.

In Norzagaray town, a buy-bust operation at 9:45 p.m. in Barangay San Matero resulted in the killing of Romeo Andres, who used the alias “Kalabaw,” and Francisco Apilinia, who was also called “Aga.”

In Pandi town, a man identified only as “Andrew” was killed during an operation at 4:25 a.m. in Barangay Siling Bata.

Simon Estrao was shot dead in a buy-bust operation at 5:55 p.m. in Barangay Prenza in Marilao town.

Theodor Fortes and Nanding Rodrigo were killed at 12:20 p.m. during a police operation in Barangay San Martin IV in the City of San Jose del Monte.

When the police served search and arrest warrants, they were allegedly attacked, leading to the death of Edgardo Bermudez, a drug suspect, in Barangay Basuit in San Ildefonso town, and of Romualdo Santos in Barangay Pulo and Emiliano Belen in Barangay Maguinao, both in San Rafael town.

Police seized 155 sachets containing suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and 15 firearms.

In Pangasinan, suspicions that foreign investors are involved in drugs had been put to rest following an inspection by a government team made on the request of four mayors.

The mayors of three western Pangasinan towns and Alaminos City had asked the Bureau of Immigration to check the legitimacy of business establishments operated by Taiwanese and Chinese nationals in Sual town.

According to Senior Supt. Ronald Oliver Lee, Pangasinan police chief, the team  inspected fish cages and warehouses owned by the foreigners and found no trace of drugs. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE AND GABRIEL CARDINOZA