FOUR suspected drug personalities were killed in separate drug busts in Talisay City on Tuesday, Dec. 18.
Operatives of Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) also seized more than P8 million worth of “shabu” that was buried in the ground.
In Barangay Bulacao, Rodel Nacario and Kevin Baguio died in a shootout with the Talisay City Police Station’s anti-narcotics unit at 3:55 a.m.
Talisay City Police Chief Marlu Conag said Nacario was identified as an underling of “drug lord” Steve Go, who was killed by a fellow inmate in Mandaue City Jail last June. Baguio allegedly worked for a gun-for-hire group.
Conag said they had to be careful when they conducted the operation because they received reports that the suspects vowed to kill police officers.
Nacario and Baguio, he said, opened fire at the operatives when they noticed they were dealing with authorities. No police officer was wounded after they took cover.
Seized from the suspects were two packs of “shabu,” a .38 revolver and a .357 revolver.
At 7 a.m., siblings Rodrigo and Noel Alvarez died after they exchanged gunfire with operatives of the CPPO’s Provincial Intelligence Branch and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) in Sitio Manguilamon, Barangay Jaclupan.
Their deaths brought to 33 the number of suspected drug pushers killed in Talisay City since Jan. 1.
PDEU Chief Alejandro Batobalonos said the Alvarez brothers bought a lot in Manguilamon, where they built a house that they used as their hideout.
The shabu recovered from the suspects was placed in a pail that they buried in their yard.
Batobalonos said the illegal drugs weighed around 1.2 kilos with an estimated street value of P8.1 million. Police also seized two .45 pistols.
Suspected junkies Randyl Añabeza, Johnrey Vitor, Jackson Ogong, Christopher Infiesto, Neilrenz Francisco and Wlifredo Narsico were taken into custody after they were found inside the suspects’ house.
Last August, more than 40 police officers were sent to Barangay Tanke to quell the illegal drug trade there.
The 42-member platoon from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion is still in the coastal barangay and will remain there for an indefinite period.
The Police Regional Office 7 had denied it was placing the barangay under its control, saying the assignment was in response to some barangay officials’ request. (from GPL of SuperBalita Cebu/KAL)