3 suspected burglars killed in Nueva Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY — Three suspected burglars were killed by police officers during an entrapment operation on Friday night (Jan. 26), when they attempted to sell back their loot to their victims in Barangay Ibabao Bana.

Benjie Montepalco, 18; Renjiel Galvez, 24; and Manuel Apelado, 40, all Sta. Rosa town residents in Nueva Ecija province, allegedly contacted two female students whose apartment on Mabini Extension was ransacked on Jan. 26.

The three men apparently sensed they were transacting with police officers, not the victims. One of the suspects opened fire, triggering a gunfight at 10:40 p.m., said Supt. Ponciano Zafra, chief of the Cabanatuan City Police Station.

Forensic investigators recovered a homemade .38-caliber revolver, two .22-caliber pistols, several spent shells fired from the three weapons and and nine fired from a 9-mm pistol.

The police also recovered five plastic sachets conytaining what they believe to be crystal meth, or shabu.

Investigators also recovered the girls’ stolen items: three mobile telephones, a laptop, and a pendant. /atm