Drug war: 2 dead, 10 arrested

MANILA, Philippines - At least two drug suspects were killed and 10 others were arrested in Metro Manila since the weekend as the government continued its campaign against the illegal drug trade.

The two fatalities, both men, were reported in Caloocan City.

One victim, who remains unidentified, was described to be between 25 and 30 years old, at least 4’9” tall, of medium build and covered in tattoos, said Chief Inspector Ilustre Mendoza, assistant city police chief.

The man was shot dead along Josefina street, 3rd Avenue in Barangay 120 shortly before midnight Saturday.

Police recovered four spent shells from a .45 caliber pistol and a sachet of shabu.

At around 1:45 a.m. yesterday, Joel Villanueva, 33, was shot dead by police officers during a sting at his house in Libis Nadurata, Barangay 18.

Villanueva reportedly drew his gun and fired when he apparently sensed he was dealing with a policeman who posed as a buyer, Mendoza said. One of the lawmen fired back and killed the suspect. 

Probers recovered a .45 caliber pistol, five sachets of shabu and marked money.

In Quezon City, at least eight drug suspects were arrested in separate operations on Sunday.

Jalil Latao, 24; Jamel Bantog, 32; Eduardo Piadozo, 30; and a 17-year-old boy were arrested in a sting at an apartelle in Barangay Immaculate Concepcion at around 12:30 a.m.

Four sachets said to contain shabu, a digital weighing scale, mobile phones and marked money were recovered from the suspects. 

Nestor Cruz, 43, was arrested in another sting with three sachets of suspected shabu along Congressional Avenue in Barangay Magsaysay at around 8:30 p.m. 

Jay-Ar Hestre, 27, was found to be carrying a sachet of marijuana and a nine-inch knife after he was arrested for causing a commotion along Ilang-Ilang street in Barangay Capri at around 4:30 p.m.

Ryan Cawite, 19, was arrested with two sachets of suspected shabu in Barangay Escopa 3 at around 11:15 p.m. 

Mark Anthony Tamayo, 22, was arrested with a sachet of shabu along San Isidro street in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa at around 10 p.m. 

In Parañaque, police officers arrested Vee Cenina, 23, and Anne Margaret Espaldon, 29, for allegedly selling marijuana out of their rented room along Unida street in Baclaran Sunday night.

A block of marijuana, a weighing scale and a grinder were found in the room, said Senior Superintendent Jemar Modequillo, city police chief.

Investigators said the suspects’ neighbors complained about the sound of the grinder being used during the wee hours. – Rey Galupo, Romina Cabrera, Perseus Echeminada