Four suspects were killed while a barangay tanod was arrested in the course of an anti-drug operation in Malolos City, Bulacan early Tuesday morning, police said.
First to be killed were Paquito Bernardo and another suspect identified only by his alias “Toto,” both of whom had given up in earlier in response to Opla “Tokhang,” who police said engaged them in a shootout in Barangay Caiogan around 3 a.m.
A follow-up operation led to a raid on a drug den were Ronald Gaben, alias “Tonton,” the alleged leader of the gang, and another suspect known only as “Dolfo,” were killed. They were armed with a .45 caliber pistol and a shotgun.
Police said that, aside from trafficking drugs, the gang was also involved in robberies and carjacking.
On the other hand, barangay tanod Rodolfo Leoncio, 41, was arrested after he was caught buying drugs from Gaben and Dolfo.
Recovered from Gaben’s house, which authorities said doubled as a drug den, were a set of black overalls believed to have been used during holdups, replica firearms and an allegedly carjacked motorcycle with police stickers.
