Camp Olivas, Pampanga—The alleged number one drug lord operating in Central Luzon and Metro Manila were killed along with his aide during a shootout with police operatives in Barangay Rizal, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday.
Killed in the encounter were Oliver Bartolome, 33, married and a resident of Barangay Sapang, Jaen, Nueva Ecija, leader of the Bartolome drug syndicate.
His aide was identified as Warlito Pangilinan, 48 years old and resident of Barangay Concepcion, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.
Bartolome and Pangilinan are the latest illegal drug operators killed by the police authorities in the span of two weeks. Earlier, another drug lord operating in Bulacan was also killed while a detainee inside the provincial jail of Zambales was found running a drug syndicate from inside the prison.
The suspects, who both died of multiple gunshot wounds in their bodies, had standing warrants of arrest for violation of Sec.11 Article 2 and Sec. 5 Article 2 of RA 9165 before the sala of Hon. Celso O. Baguio, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court, branch 34 of Gapan City, and Hon. Mildred S. Villaroman-Hermal, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court, branch 35 of the same city.
Initial investigation shows the police operatives were conducting illegal drug operation against the group in Jaen when the two fled upon seeing the police. They boarded their car with plate number XGE toward San Leonardo.
Policemen caught up with them so that their car rammed into a motor shop. The firefight then ensued.
Recovered from the scene of encounter were two .45 caliber revolvers, one M-16, several ammunition and nine sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia.
