3 drug suspects die in shootout

By Mar S. Arguelles LEGAZPI CITY --- Three suspected illegal drug pushers were killed in separate drug operations in Camarines Sur, the police reported. Noel Morillo of Balatan, Camarines Sur was killed when he resisted arrest by police operatives during a drug buy-bust operation on Saturday morning (Aug. 25) in Barangay Laganac, Balatan town, according to Police Chief Inspector Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Philippine National Police (PNP) Bicol spokesperson. In another bloody incident, Joselito Namia of Nabua, Caamarines Sur and Eric Escolano of Naga City fought it out with the police who gunned them down in a drug buy-bust sting in Barangay Dolorosa, Nabua Camarines Sur, at around 4:40 p.m. of August 24. Calubaquib said several sachets of suspected shabu (crystal meth) and three handguns of still unknown caliber were seized after the shootouts in the anti-drug operation.