EVIDENCE. The evidence recovered from two drug suspects who were killed in a shootout with police in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija on Sunday (April 25, 2021). The duo fought it out with lawmen during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Soledad around 3:25 a.m. (Photo courtesy of NEPPO)
SANTA ROSA, Nueva Ecija – Two suspected illegal drug peddlers were killed while PHP270,000 worth of shabu was seized during the buy-bust operation in Barangay Soledad here before dawn on Sunday, police said.
Lt. Col. Alexie Desamito, head of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office's (NEPPO) drug enforcement unit, identified one of the slain suspects as Manny de Guzman, a resident of San Rafael, Bulacan. The other fatality has yet to be identified.
In her report to provincial police director Col. Jaime Santos, Desamito said the suspects "initiated" the firefight when operatives tried to arrest them for selling drugs to undercover operatives.
The suspects sustained fatal gunshot wounds as responding operatives defended themselves and returned fire, she added.
Desamito said 11 sachets of suspected shabu, with estimated volume of 35 to 40 grams, were recovered from the suspects.
Forensic investigators also seized from the duo their .38 caliber revolvers and two dusted PHP500 bills. (PNA)
