Five dead in police ops in Bulacan

Five men died in Bulacan in separate police operations from Wednesday afternoon to before dawn Thursday, according to a report on News To Go on Thursday by Victoria Tulad.

A suspected motornapper identified as Caloy Calunod was killed in an alleged shootout with police around midnight in Barangay Poblacion in Sta. Maria.

Two undercover cops and a police asset met with Calunod to buy a stolen motorcycle the suspect was selling for only P5,000.

However, the suspect allegedly fired at the cops when he sensed that he was dealing with police, prompting the latter to fire back until he died.

Police Superintendent Carl Omar Fiel, chief of police of Sta. Maria, Bulacan, said the suspect has cohorts in his criminal activities.

Meanwhile, in Barangay Atlag in Malolos, alleged drug pusher Benjamin Sarmiento alias Pogi died after a buy-bust operation on Wednesday night.

According to Police Superintendent Heryl Bruno, chief of police of Malolos, Bulacan, the suspect has long been selling illegal drugs in Barangay Balayong.

At past 2 p.m. Wednesday, another buy-bust operation was conducted by Malolos Police in Barangay Look 1st.

Alleged notorious drug pusher Jessie Vasquez died during the operation.

Bruno said Vasquez sourced illegal drugs from Manila and brought them to Malolos.

Meanwhile, in Barangay Batia in Bocaue, suspected drug pusher Jerry Santiago was killed in his own house during a police operation.

In San Rafael, on the other hand, a suspected drug personality identified only as Alias Pilay died during a buy-bust operation.

Alias Pilay allegedly belonged to the Taroy illegal drug group. 

His cohorts allegedly managed to escape. 

Police Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, acting provincial director of Bulacan Police, said in an interview on Unang Balita on Thursday that they will continue police operations against criminals.

"Ang operations naman natin, tuloy-tuloy 'yan. Ginagawa lang natin na aggressive ang pag-conduct ng operations," he said.

Bersaluna added that those who do not resist arrest are just taken into custody. However, those who instigate violence are met with violence.

"'Yung mga nag-aano lang po ng violent resistance, ang PNP [Philippine National Police] ay nakahandang gumamit din ng violence kung mayroong violence din...," he said. 

On Tuesday, four suspects died in Bulacan during anti-drug police operations. 

On May 23, four other suspects died in separate anti-drug police operations in Bulacan. —KG, GMA News