Drug war toll: Valenzuela cops kill stepbrothers

Two stepbrothers suspected of drug pushing were killed in Valenzuela City after allegedly firing at policemen who were about to search their houses Monday morning.

The city police chief, Senior Supt. Ronald Mendoza identified the fatalities as Noel Dela Cruz and Aldrin Guebelaguin, who were neighbors in Lingahan, Barangay Malanday.

In an interview, Mendoza said the police were supposed to search the brothers’ houses on a warrant issued by Executive Judge Nena Santos.

The houses were earlier placed under surveillance based on a tip that the brothers sold drugs there.

Barangay officials earlier asked the brothers to surrender but they were ignored by the suspects, the official added.

The brothers, he added, fired at the police team using .38-caliber revolvers and were killed in the ensuing “shootout” around 5 a.m. Monday.

Mendoza said Guebalaguin was caught “repacking” sachets of suspected shabu.

The brothers were brought to a nearby hospital where they were later pronounced dead.