11 drug suspects killed in Caloocan, Mandaluyong

MANILA, Philippines – At least 11 suspected drug pushers and users were killed or found dead in the cities of Caloocan and Mandaluyong since Monday.

Chief Inspector Ilustre Mendoza, Caloocan chief investigator, told The STAR that all 10 victims were allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

He refused to say whether the killings were the handiwork of police officers or vigilantes, saying the investigation in each case is still ongoing.

Romel Natividad was on his way to the Barangay 35 hall to surrender when four men on two motorcycles shot him repeatedly at around noon Monday.

A bystander, Mike Luis Villaflor, 14, was hit by a stray bullet and taken to the Caloocan City Medical Center.

Probers recovered nine cartridges fired from a 9mm pistol. 

At around 1:45 p.m., police officers tried to accost a motorcycle-riding man who was not wearing a helmet as he passed near Gate 2 of Amparo Subdivision.

The man sped away and police officers gave chase until they cornered him and shot him when he drew a gun and fired.

Probers recovered a .45 caliber pistol and nine sachets of shabu from the suspect.

Shortly before 4 p.m., Mark Domo Peralta reportedly grabbed the gun of a policeman after he was arrested for rape in Barangay 35. The other police officers shot him when the gun went off.

Tricycle driver John Penolio was standing along R. Hidalgo street in Barangay 178 at around 10 p.m. when two men shot him repeatedly.

At around 10:30 p.m., Aries Michael Refuerzo was shot by an unidentified man in Dolmar Golden Hills in Barangay 167.

Almost at the same time, Jojo Coronel, 41, and Roger Labuyo were playing coin games in Recomville 2 Subdivision when four men on two motorcycles arrived and shot them.

Restituto Razon was walking at the corner of McArthur Highway and Atimoya street in Barangay 81 when two men on motorcycle gunned him down.

Two sachets of shabu were found in his possession.

Meanwhile, the Northern Police District received a call that the body of an unidentified man was found in a box at the intersection of Bagong Sibol and Martinez streets in Barangay 28.

The victim, who had been stabbed in the chest, bore tattoos all over his body. A sachet of shabu was found in the box. 

Shortly before 2 a.m. yesterday, Danilo Mariano was shot by one of eight persons who arrived while he was playing a card game at a wake along Baltazar street in Barangay 70.

In Mandaluyong City, suspected drug pushers Romeo Zapanta, 62, and Rogelio Gimoro, 20, were ambushed by motorcycle-riding assailants at around 10 p.m. Monday

Zapanta was declared dead on arrival at the Mandaluyong City Medical Center while Gimoro remains confined at the same hospital.

Zapanta was having dinner in front of his house on Agudo street in Barangay Barangka Drive when around five to seven assailants arrived and shot them.

Zapanta and Gimoro are in the watchlist of drug suspects in Mandaluyong, said city police chief Senior Superintendent Joaquin Alva.