2 brothers slain in Lucena buy-bust

LUCENA CITY – Two brothers, alleged to be local drug distributors, were killed in a police operation here early Wednesday morning.

Senior Police Officer 1 Rosemarie Angcana, Lucena police public information officer, said anti-illegal drugs operatives conducted a buy-bust operation in Barangay 10 at about 4:30 a.m.

The operation resulted in an alleged armed encounter between the lawmen and brothers Jerome and Jeffrey Masalunga, who were both killed.

Police seized a caliber .22 and a caliber .38 revolver from the suspects.

Angcana did not say how the buy-bust operation led to a supposed exchange of gunfire.

Police also arrested five drug users, Michelle Pinon, Renato Abcede Jr., Ansbert Ilao, Joel Valdez and Tamaine Glorioso, who were caught in a pot session inside the house of the Masalunga brothers.

Police said one Mery Gay Pagote was able to escape during the operation.

Authorities confiscated a sachet of crystal meth or shabu and the P500 marked money used in the transaction. /cbb