CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — A 21-year-old jobless resident of San Leonardo town was killed while eight other suspects, including two minors, were arrested in separate anti-illegal drugs operation in Nueva Ecija Tuesday.
San Leonardo police chief, Chief Insp. Ranny Casilla, identified the fatality as John Rey Francisco alias “Bukol”, a resident of Purok 1, Barangay Sumacab Sur, this city.
Casilla said Francisco suddenly fired a Caliber 38 revolver towards policemen, prompting police operatives to retaliate during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Nieves, San Leonardo shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Police recovered the suspect’s gun with fired and live bullets; six sachets of “shabu” (crystal meth) with an estimated street value of PHP6,000; and the PHP1,000 marked bill, he said.
Meanwhile, the Nueva Ecija police reported the arrest of eight people in various operations during the holiday.
They are fruit vendor Maria Cecilia, 46, of Purok Masinop, Barangay Barrera; Menard Ramirez, 28, and Ronnel dela Cruz, 31, both of Barangay MS Garcia; Loreta Mactal, 34, market vendor; and Eusebio Bautista, 43, of Barangay Pagas, all of this city; Marlon Paguio, 26, of Barangay Bantug, Talavera; and the two minors, a 17-year-old boy from Barangay San Antonio and an 18-year-old boy from Barangay San Fernando Sur, both in Cabiao town.
Police said operatives recovered suspected shabu and buy-bust money from the older suspects, who were charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs law.
The two minors, on the other hand, are under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (Marilyn Galang/PNA)
