1 dead in Bulacan drug war

MANILA, Philippines — A drug suspect was killed while another  was wounded in stings in Bulacan on Tuesday. 

An alias Kano engaged anti-drug operatives in a shootout in Barangay Pungo, Calumpit at around 10 p.m., Chief Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police director, said. 

Caramat said seven sachets of shabu and a .38-caliber revolver were recovered from the fatality.

A man identified only as Tong was wounded in a shoutout with police officers in Barangay Manuyan, San Jose del Monte, but managed to escape, police said.

Caramat said 47 drug suspects have been killed and 876 others arrested in police operations in Bulacan since Dec. 5. 

He said a total of 2,568 sachets of shabu weighing more than five kilos, 147 sachets of dried marijuana leaves and 60 guns were recovered from the suspects.

In Cagayan, college student Auy Perez, 21, was arrested after selling a sachet of shabu to a police officer who posed as a buyer in Barangay Ugac Norte, Tuguegarao.

Thirteen other suspected drug pushers were arrested in Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon yesterday.

Meanwhile, police have yet to determine if the killing of Brendo Ersano in Cavite was drug-related. The victim and his partner Charlene Piapil were in a nipa hut in Barangay Alulod, Indang when a man entered and opened fire. – With Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Ed Amoroso