2 killed, 14 nabbed in Bulacan buy-bust ops

CAMP GEN ALEJO S. SANTOS, Bulacan — Two drug suspects were killed and 14 others were arrested Friday as a result of the Bulacan police’s relentless anti-illegal drug operations in the province.

Acting Bulacan police director, Senior Supt. Chito G. Bersaluna identified the slain suspects as Sonny Boy Fernandez, a resident of Barangay Santisima Trinidad, and Reynaldo Pontawe of Inang Wika St., Barangay Caniogan, both in the City of Malolos.

Bersaluna said that in a report submitted by Malolos City police chief Supt. Herly Bruno, Fernandez was with one unidentified suspect on board a motorcycle while he transacted with the police poseur-buyer.

After the transaction, the suspect sensed that the buyer was an operative and immediately drew a gun from his sling bag and fired at the police officer but missed.

“A gunfight ensued which resulted in the neutralization of the suspect while his cohort managed to escape,” Bruno said in his report.

Recovered from the scene were four fired cartridges for a 9-mm. gun, a Caliber .38 revolver, a gray sling bag containing a wallet with 17 sachets of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth), two cellphones, and the marked money.

The other slain suspect Pontawe, who likewise sensed that he was dealing with an undercover policeman, hurriedly went inside his house to get a shotgun and fired at the police officer but failed to hit him.

Recovered were four fired cartridges for a Caliber 9-mm. gun, an improvised shotgun, two pieces live ammunition of a 12 gauge shotgun, a coin purse containing six sachets of suspected shabu, and marked money.

Meanwhile, the 14 other drug suspects were arrested in buy bust operations conducted in the towns of San Miguel, Pandi, Calumpit, Guiguinto, Bustos, Plaridel, Balagtas, Baliwag, and Sta. Maria and the City of San Jose del Monte.

Bersaluna identified the arrested drug suspects as Walter Aure, Marlon Reyes, Jerald Obispo, Erick Obispo, Christopher Yulo, Rowell Canta, John Paul Gonzales, Christopher de Guzman, Freddie Trinidad, Jane Lopez, Benson delos Santos, Jonathan Cruz, Rhaybie Gaddi, and Nicole Ann Esguerra.

A total of 55 sachets of suspected shabu and buy-bust money were seized from them. (Manny Balbin/PNA)

Popular

Palace assures BARMM polls to proceed amid probe into Macacua ambush

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet The recent ambush attack on BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua drew condemnation from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as well...

PBBM to endorse ‘best’ candidate for 2028 presidential race

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said he will endorse the “best” candidate in the 2028...

PBBM: Pax Silica a ‘good deal’ to attract more investments

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday described the Pax Silica initiative as a “good deal,” saying...

Palace defends P7.2T budget, urges critics to study spending plan

By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency Malacañang on Thursday hit back at critics of the proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 national budget, telling lawmakers to...