3 drug suspects slain in shootout

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines  – Three suspected drug traffickers were killed when they reportedly tried to shoot it out with police officers who raided a Muslim enclave in Subic, Zambales yesterday morning.

Two of the fatalities were identified as Junjun Jakaria and a certain Tuklaw.

Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, Police Regional Office-3 director, said the raid also resulted in the arrest of Jakaria’s alleged cohorts, Jessica Taralus and Abdul Aburasib.       

Petrasanta said the raiding team, composed of agents from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 3 (PDEA-3) and Zambales police officers, recovered three firearms, several grams of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Senior Superintendent Melvin Ramon Buenafe, deputy regional police director for operations, said the raid in Barangay Calapacuan was based on a warrant issued by a local court.

Meanwhile in Pangasinan, an alleged drug trafficker was also killed in a shootout with police officers in Dagupan City yesterday.

The suspect, identified only as alias Kulot, reportedly ignored a checkpoint in Barangay Bonuan Gueset, prompting the lawmen to chase him.

The suspect reportedly pulled out a gun and shot at the police officers when he was cornered in Barangay Bonuan Binloc.

The lawmen fired back, killing the suspect.

Police recovered a 9mm pistol and two plastic sachets said to contain shabu from the scene of the shootout.

Aside from drug trafficking, the suspect was also allegedly behind several robberies targeting Indian traders.  – With Eva Visperas