5 drug suspects dead in shootout with Bulacan cops

CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan, Philippines —Five drug suspects were killed in separate operations after allegedly engaging police officers in a shootout, police said Thursday.

Col. Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said drug suspect Virgilio Gabriel Jr. resisted arrest and fired at policemen during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Taal in the City of Malolos on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in the City of San Jose del Monte, drug suspects Jestoni Macandog and Kristofer Jess Policarpio were also killed during a buy-bust operation on Tuesday.

Another drug suspect, Jose Orlando Santos, was shot dead after shooting policemen in Pulilan town, also on Tuesday.

Police recovered from the slain suspects different short firearms, “shabu” (crystal meth) and drug paraphernalia. /ee