CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan – An armed suspected drug dealer was killed while his companion managed to escape after engaging lawmen manning a police checkpoint into a firefight in Bgy. Muzon here Wednesday night.
In a report to Bulacan police director Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr., SJDM city police chief Supt. Fitz Macariola identified the slain suspect as Baltazar Conrado Jr, 30, resident of Towerville, Brgy. Minuyan, City of SJDM, Bulacan,while his cohort, who managed to flee, remains unidentified as of press time Thursday afternoon.
Macariola said the armed encounter ensued when the suspects tried to evade the checkpoint conducted by the elements of San Jose Del Monte City Police Station together with a team from the PNP-Highway Patrol Group along along F. Halili Road,in Bgy. Muzon at around 11:30 pm Wednesday.
According to Macariola, personnel of the SJDM City Police Station together with the elements of Bulacan Highway Patrol Group were conducting checkpoint operation, when they tried to flag down the suspects on board a motorcycle.
The duo were armed with unknown firearms,Macariola said. He added the two suspects tried to evade the checkpoint, drew handguns and fired at the police officers .
This prompted the police to retaliate killing Conrado while his companion managed to escape heading towards the dark grassy portion of the road.
Macariola said that Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) of Bulacan Crime Laboratory processed the crime scene and recovered one Caliber .38 pistol loaded with two live ammunitions and three fired cartridge cases; eleven small heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected “shabu”; and one piece LTO driver’s license. The recovered pieces of evidence were brought to the Crime Laboratory Office for appropriate examination. –EMIL G. GAMOS