Dad, son, companion killed in Rizal anti-drug bust

Three drug suspects, including a father and his 20-year-old son, were shot dead by policemen after allegedly shooting it out with police from Cainta to Antipolo, Rizal on Thursday afternoon.

A report reaching Rizal Provincial Police Office acting director Senior Supt. Albert Ocon said the slain suspects Von Martinez, Sr., 47, his son Von Martinez Jr., and Chiquito Bato, 42, tried to escape and exchanged shots with policemen after a buy-bust operation around 4:30 p.m. at Sitio (subvillage)Balanti in Barangay (village) San Isidro in Cainta, Rizal.

The report said the Cainta Police led by Senior Insp Ryan Jay Gaon, and in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Eastern Police District, conducted a surveillance and buy-bust operation against a certain “Alvin” who operates within Balanti, San Isidro area and adjacent Barangay Mayamot in Antipolo City.

In an interview with the Inquirer on Friday, Supt Fortuno Petalio II, acting Cainta, Rizal Police chief, said the suspects, who sensed that they were dealing with policemen acting as buyers, immediately fired at the Cainta cops.

A chase and exchange of gunshots ensued until the suspects were hit at Sitio Baybay Sapa, Mayamot, Antipolo City.

Alias Alvin, the main target, remained at large, Petalio said.

The suspects, who were also residents of Mayamot, died on the spot, the report said.

Members of the Antipolo Police Community Precinct 1 responded after.

Petalio said the three slain suspects were in the barangay drug watch list as pushers who were alleged sources of illegal drugs in Eastern Manila and Rizal.

There were 50 policemen who conducted the operation at daytime “as the area was dangerous and might result in the killing of another PNP member if done at night. Mauubos kami ‘pag ganoon. Kawawa naman ang pulis (We will be annihilated if we did it that way. The police will be at a disadvantage),” Petalio said, noting the force was enough and there was no overkill.

The Cainta police chief said alias Bato was a previous target who, based on initial investigations, had earlier hit an Antipolo policeman and almost gunned down another Cainta cop in previous operations.

Responding members of the Scene of the Crime Operatives, who arrived 30 minutes after, recovered from the crime scene fired cartridges, three revolvers without serial numbers and loaded with bullets and a black coin purse containing seven plastic sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

The bodies of the victims were brought to Heaven’s Gate Memorial Homes for autopsy.