4 drug suspects killed in separate incidents in Manila

Three drug suspects were killed in a shootout with police personnel in Sta. Ana, Manila early Tuesday morning, GMA News' Mav Gonzales reported on "Unang Balita."

A buy bust operation with police target, identified as Jomar "Totong" Manawis, took place in the suspect's house upon his insistence.

However, Manawis had his cohorts waiting inside the house, according to Police Supt. Robert Domingo, Manila Police District Station 6 chief.

A gunfight ensued that resulted to the death of Manawis and two other suspected drug runners.

Relatives identified the fatalities as cousins Jefferson and Mark Anthony Bunuan.

Jefferson's sibling, Lovely Bunuan, denied that the former was a drug runner and that he was just sleeping over because they did not have space in their own house.

Jefferson, she said, is studying to become a police officer.

"Dapat di na lang dinamay. Wala namang alam yon. Magpupulis nga yon. Pinaghihirapan nga pag-aaralan nun e," she said.

"Siya lang makakatapos tapos ganyan lang mangyayari. Grabe naman," she added.

However, Domingo said the house is being used as a drug den.

"Their word against ours. Di naman nila nasusubaybayan yan. Si alyas Totong mga runner niya yan," he said.

"sino ba namang may gusto na magkakaganito? Ayaw din namin to. Pero wala kaming choice kasi they're armed and dangerous," he added.

Authorities were able to recover three revolvers and suspected shabu inside the house.

Meanwhile, a drug pusher-courier was shot dead in Quiapo, Manila after allegedly engaging the police in a shootout early Tuesday morning.

The police poseur-buyer was supposed to purchase 10 grams of shabu from the suspect, a certain Erwin.

Erwin, sensing that a police operation was taking place after he saw the back up police team, took out his pistol.

The suspect, considered a high value target, was killed in an armed encounter. Authorities seized 10 grams of suspected shabu with a street value of about P200,000 and a magnum 357 revolver. — BAP, GMA News