BATANGAS CITY – Three persons previously arrested during an illegal drug campaign were shot dead inside their home in Lian town in Batangas province late Monday, police said on Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, Batangas police director, identified the victims as couple Ronaldo, 41, and Ma. Rosette Sobrado, 36. The third victim was Raymundo Butiong, 41, who was only “visiting” the Sobrados when the attack happened.

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Lian police chief Sr. Inspector Joel Españo, in a phone interview, said six armed men, wearing bull caps, barged into the victims’ residence in Barangay (village) Poblacion 4 around 3:20 p.m.

He said the couple’s 17-year-old daughter was also in the house but was left unhurt.

“The suspects even asked the daughter where her parents were,” Españo said. The suspects fled onboard a white sports utility vehicle after the attack.

Españo said the attack may be connected with the illegal drug trade. In two separate instances early this year, the police arrested Ronaldo and Ma. Rosette but both had posted bail for the offense. The couple, as well as Butiong, surrendered to the government’s anti-drug campaign this year.

“They lay low but their operations never totally stopped,” Españo said. Follow up operations continue to track down the gunmen./rga

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