The chiefs of police of towns with reported cases of drug-related summary executions have been ordered to submit results of their investigation or be sacked from their posts.
Police senior superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr, acting provincial director, gave the order after 12 out of 54 drug suspects killed in anti-drug operations since July 1 were found to be victims of extrajudicial killings.
He said the provincial police do not condone such manner of killing, even if the victims are facing criminal charges.
While admitting the existence of a vigilante group in Bulacan, Caramat added that they are not discounting the possibility that drug lords might be behind the killings.
In a report to chief superintendent Aaron Aquino of the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO 3), Caramat identified the slain suspects as Zaldy Carinio, 43, of Marilao; one Ben of Poblacion of Santa Maria; and Morris of Barangay Bulihan of Malolos City who died in legitimate operations on Wednesday night.
The latest deaths added up to 10 others on a list of what police called killed in action (KIA), seven suspects were arrested in different police operations conducted in the towns of Bocaue, Norzagaray, Marilao, San Rafael, as well as Malolos City Police and San Jose Del Monte City Police in three days of drug operations since Monday.
Killed in the operations were Vergel Veleza of Diliman 1st, San Rafael town; Armando Dela Cruz; Allan Alonto, 26, of Sitio Pallorina Barangay Minuyan, Norzagaray; Randy Castro; Cecilio Elardo, 29, of San Juan Compound, Barangay Santa Rosa 1, Marilao; Joel Duran; Rey Nicolas; and two other unidentified suspects.
Those arrested were identified as Anna Fatima Pascual, 18, of Barangay Matictic; Vergel Hernandez, 25, of Sitio Settling in Barangay Bigte; Henry Boticario, 30, of Barangay Minuyan; Sylvester Mesina, 22, and Alfredo Cruz, 46, both of Sitio Curbada, Barangay Minuyan, all of Norzagaray; Amado Tizon, 39, of Purok Madricacao, Barangay Santa Rosa 1; and Pedro San Jose, 53, of Barangay Loma de Gato, Marilao.
San Rafael Police chief, superintendent Orlando Castil, said they received information through hotline Project Call-Text Brigade on Monday evening about a suspicious- looking man, who turned out to be Veleza, on board a red motorcycle in Barangay San Roque near the cemetery.
Upon seeing the approaching policemen, Veleza allegedly fired at the authorities that resulted in a shootout.
Police said Veleza is facing an attempted murder case and escaped during a buy-bust on July 1.
Norzagaray municipal police chief superintendent Rizalino Andaya, on Monday said a clash ensued between his men and a drug suspect, Randy Castro, who shot a police poseur buyer during a drug bust in Sitio Crusher, Barangay Bigte, while another suspect—identified only as Alonto—was neutralised in a running gunbattle on Tuesday in Sitio Palorina in Barangay Minuyan, Norzagaray.
In Marilao, members of the Drug Enforcement Unit led by superintendent Amado Mendoza Jr conducted a drug operation on Tuesday in Villaluz Subdivision, Barangay Santa Rosa 1 that resulted in the death of a suspect known only as Elardo.
Meanwhile, Joel Duran, with an arrest warrant for car theft, was killed in an entrapment after he fired two shots at an undercover policeman in Barangay Patubig, Marilao town, on Wednesday.
The Bulacan Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) head, superintendent Marlon Santos, said that upon accepting marked money, Duran opened fire at police and a running gunbattle ensued, resulting in his death.
In San Jose del Monte, superintendent Wilson Magpali reported that two unidentified armed men were neutralised during a buy-bust in Pugad Halimaw, Barangay Santa Cruz 5, Sapang Palay, also on Wednesday morning.