4 drug suspects killed in Nueva Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY — Four drug suspects were killed in separate buy-bust and checkpoint operations in Nueva Ecija province from 3 a.m. on Saturday to 3 a.m.  on Sunday, police said.

In Gapan City, Eddie Boy Manalastas, a suspected drug dealer, was killed during a police buy-bust operation in Barangay Mangino on Saturday.

Police said Manalastas fired at undercover police offciers after selling a sachet of suspected crystal meth, or shabu, for P1,000.

In San Isidro town, two men on a motorcycle engaged policemen manning a checkpoint in a firefight at 2:14 a.m. on Sunday in Barangay Sundayin.

Police said the two men fired at police officers at the checkpoint on Governor Joson provincial road, prompting the lawmen to return fire. Both suspects died before reaching the Good Samaritan Hospital in Gapan.

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

The Nueva Ecija police also 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 vehicles were from Cabanatuan City.

Two murders involving motorcycle-riding suspects occurred recently in Nueva Ecija: those of retired priest, Fr. Marcelito Paez, in Jaen town on Dec. 4 last year, and of Mary Anne Hernandez, executive secretary of Gov. Czarina Umali, in Talavera town on Jan. 14. /atm