4 drug suspects slain

MANILA, Philippines - Two more suspected drug personalities were killed in stings while another survived a gun attack in Luzon in the past two days.

A certain Mumong and Emarwin Pabico, alias Ipa, allegedly drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to anti-drug operatives in Barangay Cacarong Bata in Pandi, Bulacan.

Mumong was killed at around 1 a.m. yesterday and Pabico at around 11 p.m. on Monday.

Police said they recovered six sachets of shabu, guns and ammunition from the fatalities.

Daniel Carandang, 48, and his brother Mauro, 53, allegedly shot it out with policemen in Barangay Paciano Rizal in Bay, Laguna also on Monday.

Police said the fatalities were “high-value” drug suspects and members of the so-called Tirtir gang.

In Cagayan, Johnny Asco was cleaning his motorcycle in front of his house in Barangay Ugac Sur in Tuguegarao City on Monday when unidentified motorcycle-riding men opened fire.

Asco was hit in the legs and brought to the People’s Emergency Hospital for treatment.?Six bullet shells for a caliber .45 pistol were recovered at the scene.  – Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Raymund Catindig, Ed Amoroso, Eva Visperas 

6,500 drug personalities

Meanwhile, the police in Pangasinan are looking for around 6,500 suspected drug personalities who have yet to surrender under Project Double Barrel Alpha.

Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, provincial police acting director, told The STAR yesterday that these personalities were not on their original drug watchlist.

“Some who are well-off opted to undergo rehabilitation. But we still have to account for them. They have to surrender to us so they can be cleared…They should also be evaluated,” said Lee.

Meanwhile, Lee said only the town of Sto. Tomas among the 44 towns and four cities in Pangasinan has been declared free of  illegal drugs.

The areas with the most number of barangays cleared of illegal drugs are in Alaminos City, 35; Malasiqui, 55; Dagupan City, 28, and Urdaneta City, 29. – Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Raymund Catindig, Ed Amoroso, Eva Visperas