2 drug suspects slain in shootout

MANILA, Philippines - Two alleged drug peddlers were slain in an encounter with policemen following a sting in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

One of the two suspects was known only through the alias “Mac-Mac,” which he used in transacting with a policeman who had posed as a buyer.

The other suspect remains unidentified, said Senior Inspector Roberto Razon, head of the Quezon City Police District’s anti-drug unit.

Razon said an informant led them to the suspects, who agreed to meet with an undercover policeman in Barangay Commonwealth at past 2 a.m.

The transaction was for the sale of 50 grams of shabu with a street value of  P100,000.

When the policeman signaled his back-up team, Mac-Mac sensed the approaching police officers and started shooting with his .45 caliber pistol, forcing the lawmen to retaliate, Razon said.

The other suspect, armed with a .38 caliber revolver, was killed in the gun battle.

Razon said the motorcycle used by the suspects was stolen from Allan Ricohermoso, who turned up and told police that the motorcycle was stolen while parked along Commonwealth Avenue on Monday morning.