4 suspects killed in separate Ecija police ops

CABANATUAN CITY — Four suspects were killed in separate drug busts and checkpoint operations in Nueva Ecija from 3 a.m. on Saturday to 3 a.m. on Sunday, police records show.

In Gapan City, Eddie Boy Manalastas, a suspected drug dealer, was killed at 3:10 a.m. during a Saturday buy-bust operation by Gapan city police in Barangay (village) Mangino.

Police said Manalastas fired a caliber .45 pistol at undercover policemen after selling a sachet of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) in exchange for a P1,000 marked bill.

Two unidentified motorcycle riders initiated a gun battle with policemen manning a checkpoint at 2:14 a.m. on Sunday in San Isidro town.

Police said the riders shot at members of the police’s 1st provincial mobile force company (1PMFC) along the Gov. Joson provincial road, but missed, prompting the lawmen to return fire.

Both suspects died on the way to the Good Samaritan Hospital in Gapan City.

In San Antonio town on Sunday, Alexander Bernardino, 45, reportedly fired at a police checkpoint when he was flagged down as he drove up in a motorcycle along the San Mariano-Lawang Kupang road in Barangay Lawang Kupang at 3:15 a.m. He was killed when the police fired back.

Meanwhile, the Nueva Ecija police have impounded 413 undocumented tricycles and motorcycles in simultaneous operations in 27 towns and five cities, to prevent crimes from being committed by motorcycle-riding men.

Many of the impounded tricycles and motorcycles were from Cabanatuan City.

The vehicles, impounded at the PNP provincial headquarter compounds here, would be released as soon as their owners produce proper documents, certificates of registration, and number plates, said Senior Insp. Jacqueline Gahid, the police information officer.

Two high profile murders involving motorcycle-riding suspects occurred in Nueva Ecija — the killing of retired priest Fr. Marcelito Paez in Jaen town on Dec. 4, 2017, and the attack on Mary Anne Hernandez, 38, executive secretary of Gov. Czarina Umali in Talavera town on Jan. 14. /je