War on drugs: 7 more killed in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Seven more suspected drug pushers were killed in separate police operations in Metro Manila over the weekend.

In Mandaluyong, two drug suspects were killed in what police said was a shootout after a failed kidnap try on Saturday.

Police identified one of the suspects as Mark Newell Ong Co based on a voter’s identification card recovered from his possession.

City police chief Superintendent Joaquin Alva said the suspects yielded a fragmentation grenade, a .38-caliber revolver and several sachets of shabu.

Authorities believe that the suspects were members of a kidnapping ring.

Alva said the suspects in a Toyota Corolla (TSE 452) tried to kidnap a woman in Barangay Malamig at around 8:30 p.m.

However, the woman managed to escape and sought the help of barangay officials in the area, prompting Senior Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, director of the Eastern Police District, to order a dragnet operation to catch the suspects.

After receiving the failed kidnap report, PO2 Manuel Bien along with barangay officials chased the suspects.

Authorities caught up with the suspects along Arayat street. But instead of yielding, the suspects fired at the lawmen, triggering a shootout.

In Caloocan City, four alleged drug personalities were shot dead on Saturday.

Police said Richard Torres, 27, Joselito Fernando, 50, and one alias “Joey” were standing along the street in Bagong Silang when two men on a motorcycle arrived and shot them repeatedly.

Torres and Joey died at the scene. Fernando was declared dead on arrival at the Jose Rodriguez Hospital in Tala.

Virgilio Parane, 27, who was caught in a pot session along with two others, died after he allegedly grabbed the gun of one of the arresting police officers in a patrol car.  

Caloocan police chief investigator Senior Inspector Ilustre Mendoza said Parane and his companions Roly Calibo and Merlie Parane were being transported to the police station when the incident happened.

Mendoza said Calibo and Merlie were in a police car. Parane was in another car with Police Officers 1 Charles Dave Lacson and Carlomar Donato.

 Parane allegedly grabbed the gun of Lacson, prompting Donato to shoot him.

Mendoza said anti-drug operatives headed by Senior Inspector Bernard Pagaduan were conducting Oplan Tokhang when they received information that the suspects were engaged in a pot session.

In Tondo, Manila, a 52-year-old woman said to be a drug user was killed in Port Area.

Elena Odchigue was walking along a dimly lit portion in Baseco Compound when she was attacked by unidentified assailants, according to SPO2 Jonathan Bautista of the Manila Police District homicide section.

Odchigue’s husband admitted to police that his wife was a drug user.

More arrests, surrenderees

In Quezon City, seven drug suspects were arrested and 27 others surrendered to police.

Anthony Ong, who is on the watchlist of the Cubao police, was apprehended with his cohort Michael Gomba in a drug sting in Barangay Kaunlaran.

Police said they recovered four sachets of shabu and the marked money used in the operation.

Dindo Gallardo, 45, tagged as the Top 11 drug personality of the Kamuning police, was nabbed in another sting.

The other suspects – Rogelio Bating, Dunald Viro, Wilma Tolentino and Charlie Quiambao – were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in Barangays Sacred Heart, Bagong Lipunan and San Martin de Porres.

Twenty-seven more alleged drug users turned themselves in to the Quezon City police during the implementation of Oplan Tokhang in Barangay Sto. Niño.

CIDG agents undergo drug test

Meanwhile, more than 200 Camp Crame-based officers and men of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) were subjected to random drug testing to cleanse their ranks of drug users on Thursday.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Roel Obusan said 255 CIDG officers and non-uniformed personnel took the drug test.

Obusan said all CIDG personnel would undergo drug tests in line with the government’s campaign to stop illegal drug trafficking and abuse.