CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — Four alleged members of a notorious drug gang who are also engaged in carnapping activities were killed while a village watchman was arrested in an anti-drug operation conducted by the Malolos City police station at a suspected dope den in Barangay Caniogan here early Tuesday morning.
Bulacan acting police director Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr., identified the slain armed suspects as Paquito Bernardo, Ronald Gaben, a certain alias “Toto” and one alias “Dolfo”, all residents of said barangay.
The village watchman who was arrested during an earlier buy-bust operation was identified as Rodolfo Leoncio.
Caramat said that the shootout ensued during a follow up operation by operatives of the Malolos City police station headed by Supt. Heryl Bruno after Leoncio was arrested in the buy bust sting.
Caramat said that Bruno and his men was about to conduct another anti-drug operation when the suspects sensed their presence.
He said that at that moment, the suspects were cannibalizing a motorcycle that police said was stolen earlier.
He said the group scattered in a dark alley while firing shots at the lawmen.
The gun battle lasted for more than an hour, police said.
Caramat said the Malolos police earlier reported that the group was also engaged in carnapping activities and other crimes aside from drug peddling.
Police recovered from the suspects one caliber 45 pistol, one 12 gauge shot gun, two improvised shotguns, one coverall uniform said to be being used in robbery activities, three stolen motorcycles, undetermined grams of suspected “shabu” or methamphetamine hydrochloride and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Mayor Christian D. Natividad commended the Malolos police operatives for their non-stop operations against drug gangs and other lawless elements.
“They have no place in our city. The long arms of the law will catch them whenever they conduct their nefarious trade here,” Natividad said. Emil Gamos/PNA-northboundasia.com