Death toll in Bulacan overnight drug ops now at 26

At least 26 people have died in overnight drug operations that began on Monday in Bulacan province.

Region 3 police director Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino gave GMA News Online the updated death toll, up from 21 reported on Tuesday morning.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr., provincial police director, earlier said 64 others were arrested in 24 buy-bust operations and implementation of two search warrants from Monday night to Tuesday morning.

Caramat said operations will continue until Tuesday evening.

Caramat also reported that a total of 21 firearms and more than 100 grams of shabu were confiscated during the separate raids.

In Marilao, killed were alias Egoy and Tom who were allegedly armed with a cal.-38 revolver and an improvised shotgun.  Seized from them were six sachets weighing more or less two grams of shabu.

Alias Enan and Justin were killed in Obando. They were allegedly armed with a cal.-38 revolver and a 9mm pistol during the buy-bust operations. Seized from them were 50 grams of shabu.

Others killed during the buy-bust operations were Berth in Pulilan, Alvin in Balagtas, Chris in San Miguel, Jerom in Plaridel, Yayot and an unidentified companion in Guiguinto, Arnold and an unidentified companion in Norzagaray, Willy and Jeffery in Malolos, Elias and Eugene in San Jose del Monte, Macoy in Sta. Maria, Pugeng Manyak in Baliwag, and a yet to be identified suspect.

Those killed during the serving of arrest warrants were alias Allan Tattoo and an unidentified suspect.

IAS probe

Meanwhile, the PNP Internal Affairs Service will be conducting a motu propio investigation on the operation.

“Automatic ‘yun, if firearms were used, the IAS will conduct their motu propio investigation, SOP (standard operating procedure) na ‘yan para tignan kung may paglabag sa guidelines,” PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos said in a press conference.

Asked if he was surprised with the number of deaths, Carlos said he believed it was normal.

“If there were 22 or 25  operations conducted so ibig sabihin normal siya.  Kung single operation resulting to that number of deaths titignan talaga. It only shows yung Bulacan nagsasagawa ng ganito, they are doing their part in the anti-drug war,” he said.  —with Amita Legaspi/JST, GMA News