Some of the pieces of evidence gathered from a suspected drug peddler during the continuous police operation in Nueva Ecija. Contributed photo
CABANATUAN CITY – Two suspected traders of illegal drugs were killed, 18 were arrested, and 64 sachets of shabu were confiscated in less than 24 hours of continuous police operations in Nueva Ecija.
Nueva Ecija police director Col. Marvin Joe Saro identified the fatalities as Rogel Barlis, a resident of Gen. Tinio town and Allan Martinez of this city.
Saro said Barlis died in a firefight with lawmen in a buy–bust operation conducted by the an Isidro police station led by its chief, Maj. Joel dela Cruz,in Barangay Poblacion that municipality at about 11 p.m. Thursday.
Recovered from Barlis were a .45 pistol, a .38 revolver, one sachet of suspected shabu, and a single motorcycle.
Martinez, on the other hand, reportedly died on the spot after allegedly initiating an exchange of fire with members of the Quezon police drug enforcement unit led by town police chief Capt. Melchor Pereja in Barangay San Miguel, Quezon, about 2:30 a.m. Friday.
Forensic investigators recovered the suspect’s .9mm pistol.
Of the arrested suspects, two were caught red-handed with six sachets of shabu in Barangay Sto. Cristo, San Isidro; six yielded 38 sachets in this city; two were nabbed in San Antonio; one each in the towns of Guimba, Sto. Domingo, Carranglan, Gen. Tinio, Aliaga, Santa Rosa, as well as in the cities of San Jose and Gapan. A total of 19 sachets of shabu were seized from these suspects, police reported.
Saro said charges for violation Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act were filed against the suspects.
“These continuous anti-drug operations are anchored on the intention of the government to save the community from the ill effects of drugs,” Saro said.
