THE Philippine National Police has neutralized one suspected drug personality and arrested 44 others just halfway through the week, in line with the unrelenting war on drugs in Pampanga.

Pampanga Police Provincial Office (PPPO) Director Jean Fajardo said the suspects were arrested during separate anti-illegal drug operations conducted by local police across the province.

She said the lone neutralized suspect, identified as Raym Lacson alias "Paco," was a subject of a buy-bust operation jointly launched by various units of PPPO, and City of San Fernando and Bacolor police.

Lacson, who was listed in Bacolor police's list of drug personalities, allegedly engaged in an armed encounter with authorities during the operation that immediately led to his immediate death, she added.

Meanwhile, Fajardo also reported that the three-day drug operations also resulted in the confiscation of a total of 136 sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), seven sachets of marijuana, and two loose firearms.

"Appropriate criminal charges are set to be filed against the arrested suspects while they are detained in the respective stations where they were arrested," she said.

Fajardo said the successful conduct of illegal drug operations bring Pampanga police steps closer to its goal of making the province a drug-free one.