11 drug suspects slain in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - At least 11 people believed to be involved in the illegal drug trade were killed in separate incidents in various parts of Metro Manila in the past two days.

Police said seven drug suspects were killed in legitimate police operations in the continuing war on drugs in the cities of Manila, Caloocan and Navotas.

Felix Martin, 68, said to be a drug pusher, was shot dead by unidentified men on a motorcycle in Tondo at around 11 p.m. on Friday.

Martin died at the scene from a gunshot to the head.

Police said they recovered two sachets of shabu from Martin.

Jerson Colaban, alias Dodong, his brother Jossing and Joseph Baculi were killed when they allegedly traded shots with anti-illegal drug operatives along Oro Extension in Sta. Ana, also in Manila at around 2:30 a.m. yesterday.

Police officers were supposed to serve a warrant for the arrest of Colaban when the suspects reportedly fired at them, triggering a shootout.

The three were taken to the Ospital ng Maynila where they were declared dead on arrival.

Police said the suspects yielded two .38-caliber revolvers, an improvised shotgun and seven sachets of shabu.

Three more drug suspects – Ryan Pareja, Markvinn Baldemo and Edmar Gandela – were killed when they reportedly opened fire at police during separate stings in Dagat-Dagatan and MacArthur Highway in Caloocan City.

Police said they recovered a 9mm pistol, two .38-caliber revolvers, 11 sachets of shabu, dried marijuana and drug paraphernalia from the suspects.

Nolasco Santos, an alleged drug user, died after he allegedly shot it out with police following a sting along Los Martirez street in Navotas.

Santos reportedly yielded a sachet of shabu and a .38-caliber revolver.

In Quezon City, two drug suspects were killed in separate police operations.

Probers identified the fatalities as Arnold Ducusin Saavedra, alias Wacky, 37, and Jose Cabigti Torres, alias Intoy, 36.

Saavedra was killed when he allegedly fired at police during a follow-up operation at his house in Barangay Apolonio Samson. He died at the scene.

Saavedra was reportedly on the drug watchlist of the La Loma police.

Authorities said they recovered six plastic sachets of shabu, a loaded .45-caliber pistol and drug paraphernalia from Saavedra.

The operation was conducted after Saavedra was tagged as the alleged source of illegal drugs by two tricycle drivers identified as Raymond San Buenaventura, 25, and Raymond Sagum, 26.

San Buenaventura and Sagum were earlier apprehended for driving a colorum tricycle. They reportedly yielded two sachets of shabu.

Torres was killed in a reported shootout with police follolwing a sting at his house on Orchids street, Barangay Batasan Hills.

Police said they recovered a loaded .38-caliber revolver, 10 packets of shabu and the marked money from Torres.

Torres was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A suspected high-value drug personality was shot dead in Pasig City.

Two unidentified men broke into the house of Alex Kasim, 53, in Barangay Pinagbuhatan and fired at him, case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Eduardo Pablo said.

Pablo said Kasim is on the drug watchlist of the Eastern Police District and Barangay Pinagbuhatan.

Meanwhile,Wilmark Carandang, 38, was wounded after being shot by unidentified assailants along San Francisco Street, Barangay Plainview in Mandaluyong City.

A pedicab driver brought Carandang to a nearby hospital after he suffered three gunshot wounds, police said.

Police said Carandang is included in the barangay’s drug watchlist. – Ghio Ong, Romina Cabrera, Robertzon Ramirez