6 drug suspects slain

MANILA, Philippines -  Six more drug suspects were killed in Luzon on Monday and Tuesday. 

Orlando Yutoc, 63, a resident of Purok 7, Barangay San Jose in San Fernando, Pampanga, was shot by unidentified men who barged into his house.

Police said Yutoc was on the barangay drug watchlist and surrendered last year.

Mamerto Mendoza was walking in Barangay Datu Esmael in Dasmariñas, Cavite when he was shot. Police said the victim was a known drug user and arrested for illegal possession of firearms three years ago.

John Paul Granados, 29, a resident of Manila; Artemos Baylon Jr., 39, and his unidentified companion allegedly drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to anti-drug operatives in Barangay San Juan in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija and Santiago in Botolan, Zambales, respectively. 

Leo Mondarte, alias Lakay, also reportedly shot it out with undercover agents in Barangay Dela Paz in Antipolo City, Rizal.

Sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia, a weighing scale, a caliber .38 revolver and a hand grenade were reportedly recovered from the fatalities.

Meanwhile, police have yet to determine the motive for the killing of an unidentified man, whose body was found at a drainage in Barangay Salitran II also in Dasmariñas and Sonny Ricasata, a member of the municipal seaborne anti-illegal fishing unit, in Barangay Bagbag 2 in Rosario in Cavite on Monday.

Espinosa drug ring

In Tacloban City, “high-value” drug suspect Dexter Ty, 41, was arrested in a sting in Barangay 91 Abucay also on Tuesday.

Ty is on the drug watchlist of President Duterte and an alleged member of the Espinosa drug ring.

Police said at least 19 sachets of shabu with an estimated street value of P60,000, a sling bag and P500 in cash were recovered from the suspect.

Twenty-four other drug suspects were collared in separate operations across the country on Tuesday.

Among those arrested were Steve Perilla, a watchman of Barangay Bubug in Sto. Tomas, Isabela, and Jocelyn Sonido, councilwoman of Bungro in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur.

Police said Sonido surrendered under Oplan Tokhang last year.

Drug den for minors

Rogelio Bolo and his wife Leilah, who were allegedly operating a drug den for minors, were arrested in a sting in Barangay Rosary Heights 6 in Cotabato City. Their 15-year-old son was placed under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

In Batangas, Margarita Aquino, 59, was arrested for allegedly trying to bribe Superintendent Barnard Danie Dasugo, Batangas City police chief, in exchange for the release of drug suspect Ronald Ramos, who was arrested in a sting in Barangay Cuta on Monday.

Dasugo said Aquino offered him P40,000.

Four other suspects were arrested in Nabua, Camarines Sur and 15 in Batangas.