6 drug suspects shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - Six more deaths linked to the government’s war on illegal drugs were reported in the past two days.

Two were slain in a running gunbattle with police in Baras, Rizal yesterday. One of the fatalities was identified through his driver’s license as Benwildo Matan.

Police said the two motorcycle-riding men refused to pull over at a checkpoint along Parapet road at around 1 a.m. and engaged police officers in a shootout, triggering a chase.

 Two guns, 15 sachets of shabu and a Kawasaki motorcycle were reportedly recovered from the fatalities.

In Cavite, Ronaldo Quion was killed in an encounter with anti-drug operatives in Barangay Bagbag 1 in Rosario, Cavite at around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, said Senior Superintendent Arthur Bisnar, Cavite police director.

Bisnar said a .38-caliber revolver, a sachet of shabu and marked money  were recovered from the fatality.

Gary Encinas, councilman of Barangay Tinampo in Ligao City, Albay, was killed in a sting on Wednesday night.

Police said Encinas was ranked sixth on their drug watchlist.

In Antique, Lonchivar Parangue, village watchman in Camancijan in Culasi town, allegedly drew his gun at police operatives during an anti-drug operation at around 10 a.m. yesterday.

Parangue was pronounced dead on arrival at the Culasi District Hospital. Police said they recovered a caliber .38 revolver, three sachets of shabu, P660 in  cash and a backpack from the fatality.

Marce Onia, 25, was gunned down by unidentified motorcycle-riding men  in Barangay Banga First in Plaridel, Bulacan also on Wednesday. The victim was on the barangay drug watchlist.

Meanwhile, police are investigating two separate gun attacks that left two persons dead on Wednesday.

Mary Ann Cesar was shot in Barangay San Andres in Cainta, Rizal. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Pasig City General Hospital.

In Laguna, Jon-Jon Henobe was gunned down while walking on his way home in Barangay Santa Ana in San Pablo City. – Ed Amoroso, Non Alquitran, Jennifer Rendon, Francis Elevado, Ric Sapnu