4 killed on Holy Week police operations in Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY – Three men were killed during a drug bust operation at 8:45 p.m. on Good Friday (Mar. 30) in Barangay (village) Sta. Arcadia here, according to a belated police report.

The police operation took place a day after a suspected car thief was killed in an encounter with lawmen in the Science City of Muñoz at 8:15 p.m. on Maundy Thursday (Mar. 29).

Enrico Lamar and Ricky Duran, both listed in the Cabanatuan drug watch list and Bernard Meneses, who is on the watch list of Peñaranda town, died after allegedly shooting at undercover agents during a buy-bust operation, said Supt. Ponciano Zafra, city police chief.

Forensic investigators recovered from the slain men three handguns, 13 sachets of suspected shabu (crystal meth), and P2,000 in marked bills.

The police, meanwhile, have yet to establish the identity of the man on board a stolen motorcycle who reportedly fired at policemen in Barangay Maragol. The slain suspect was riding alongside another motorcycle rider who fled.

The police responded to an alert regarding suspicious motorcycle riders who were roaming the villages of Maragol, Villa Nati and Villa Cuison, police said. Armand Galang