2 alleged drug pushers killed in separate Lucena raids
LUCENA CITY – Two suspected barangay (village)-based suppliers of crystal meth or shabu were killed in separate shootouts with authorities during an anti-illegal drugs operation here Monday afternoon, police said.
Anti-narcotics operatives armed with search warrants conducted simultaneous raids in several areas in Barangay (village) Cotta from 4:00 to 5:45 p.m., a report from Supt. Vicente Cabatingan, Lucena police chief, said.
According to the report, suspected drug pushers, Jonathan Mercurio Romano and Ruel Kuan, reportedly resisted arrest when the agents raided their separate safe houses and an alleged drug den.
During the raid, police said the suspects opened fire on the raiders, forcing them to return fire. Romano and Kuan died on the spot while
Seized from Romano was a homemade shotgun loaded with one shell, two spent shotgun cartridge cases and one caliber .38 revolver with defaced serial numbers.
The raiders also found a caliber .45 pistol from Kuan, who reportedly maintained the drug den in the village.
Meanwhile, authorities nabbed 24 suspected drug pushers and users during the separate operations. One of those arrested has an outstanding arrest warrant for illegal drugs, police said.
At least 16 of those arrested were nabbed while in the act of using drugs in two target drug dens, police added.
Seized during the separate raids were a total of 34 grams of shabu with a current street value of around P115,000 and P4,000 worth of marijuana. /muf
