Task group to probe killing of 5 drug suspects in Bulacan

A special investigation task group has been created to probe the killing of five drug suspects in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

According to a report on GMA News TV's Balitanghali by Marisol Abdurahman on Friday, three men and and two women were found dead inside a house unit at Barangay San Pedro.

Neighbors, who heard several gunshots from the house, reported the incident early Thursday morning to a barangay watchman, who then notified the police.

All five individuals found dead at the scene were later identified to be personalities included in the drug watch list of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The San Jose Del Monte police said the incident may have resulted from a conflict related to illegal drugs.

"Nagkaroon po ng onsehan or away doon sa ibang grupo, doon sa ibang grupo, maybe nagkaroon ng atraso itong grupo na ito kaya gumanti yung kabila," SJDM police chief Colonel Orlando Castil, Jr. said.

He added that, by the looks of the bodies, there was definitely an intent to eliminate the drug suspects. "'Yung mga tama sa ulo doon sa mga biktima, pinagplanuhan po talaga patayin itong mga biktima."

Aside from the bodies, the authorities said they found seven sachets of suspected shabu.

 Also recovered from the area were several bullet shell casings from various guns — 10 from a .45 caliber firearm and six from a caliber .40 caliber firearm.

One of the slain drug suspects was also involved in a case of carnapping.

According to the neighbors, the individuals had been renting out the house for around three months.

The wife of one of the suspects remarked: "Sana ikinulong na lang habang buhay kinulong, baka matanggap ng anak ko."

The special investigation task group that was formed to investigate the incident was already following a lead as of the report. — Margaret Claire Layug/MDM, GMA News