3 dead in Batangas buy-busts

Shabu. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

SAN PEDRO CITY — Three alleged drug pushers were killed by the police in separate anti-narcotics operations in Batangas province.

In Lipa City, suspect Randy Topacio allegedly fired a gun while transacting with undercover policemen in Barangay (village) Lodlod past midnight on Monday, said Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (CALABARZON) police.

Topacio was hit in a gunfight and died in the hospital while undergoing treatment.

In Batangas City, suspect Roderick Fajilan also died after reportedly shooting it out with the police in Barangay Sta. Clara around 11 p.m. Sunday.

Eleazar said that during the buy-bust operation, Fajilan shot Police Officer 3 Romulo dela Peña with a .38 caliber revolver. The police officer shot him dead.

In San Jose, the police conducted a buy-bust operation that targeted suspected pusher Abraham Awat in Barangay Tugtug around 8 p.m. on Sunday.  The police shot Awat just as the suspect opened fire.

Awat died while being taken to the San Jose District Hospital, the police said. /cbb