Metro Briefs

Cops kill 3 cousins in Manila drug bust

The Manila police shot three cousins dead in an antidrug operation on Wednesday in Sta. Ana, where they allegedly sold P200 worth of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) to  undercover agents.

The fatalities identified as Leo Merced Geluz, Joshua Merced and Bimbo Siprano Merced were killed inside their house at Benita Compound, Pasig Line, in a buy-bust operation where PO3 Allan Escramosa, and PO2s Roestrell Ocampo and Francisco Mendoz acted as poseur buyers.

The 3 a.m. operation led by Insp. Alfredo Tan. Jr. recovered 16 sachets of shabu, two revolvers, several bullets and drug paraphernalia from the slain suspects, according to PO3 Aldeen Legaspi of Manila Police District homicide section.

The operation made use of an informant who guided the buyers in contacting the suspects. —Aie Balagtas See

Tondo village chair shot dead outside barangay hall

A village chief in Tondo, Manila, was shot dead in front of his barangay hall late Wednesday night.

The victim, Barangay 106 chair Tito Caldozo, was seated next to a tanod (watchman) when two men on a motorcycle approached them around 11 p.m. One of the men shot Caldozo in the chest before fleeing together with his accomplice.

SPO2 Charles Duran of Manila Police District’s homicide section said that before Caldozo was killed, the official had been telling neighbors, albeit in a joking manner, that he had received death threats. —Aie Balagtas See