6 drug, robbery suspects killed in shootouts

MANILA, Philippines — Six suspects, three of them drug personalities, were killed in alleged firefights with police officers in Bulacan, Batangas and Nueva Ecija in the past twodays.

Former policeman Alvin Belmonte allegedly fired at police officers in a drug bust in Barangay Kapitan Pepe, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija yesterday.

In Bulacan, two men identified only as Romeo and Edmar drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents in Sta. Maria and Meycauayan, respectively, on Friday, Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police acting director, said.

The fatalities yielded sachets of shabu, marked money and guns, police said.

An alias Leo, the alleged leader of a carjacking gang, reportedly shot police officers who responded to reports that a motorcycle was stolen in Barangay Cayponse, Balayan, Batangas on Friday night.

In Laguna, two unidentified motorcycle-riding men accused of stealing two bottles of lambanog and P10,000 from a store in  Calamba, Laguna allegedly shot it out with police officers who cornered them in Barangay Pansol yesterday. – Emmanuel Tupas, Ed Amoroso, Ding Cervantes