Supt. Peter Madria, city police chief, identified the fatalities as John Lester Miranda, 25, of Barangay Caalibangbangan and Jester Roeldan, 28, of Barangay Cinco-Cinco, both in Cabanatuan City.
Madria said the encounter between policemen and the duo was an off shoot of the report by a certain Jar Ar Aguilar, 30, and Kevin Martin, 22, of Barangay Sinasajan, Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija that their motorcycle was taken from them at gunpoint by two men along Del Corro St., Barangay San Lorenzo here at about 3:45 that afternoon.
“Upon receipt (of the report), joint elements of this station and PSOG, NEPPO (Provincial Special Operations Group, Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office) conducted follow up investigation that resulted to the armed encounter,” Madria said.
Forensic investigators recovered from the place of encounter one .38 revolver, several bullets and a sachet of suspected shabu, police said.
