5 drug suspects killed, 7 arrested

MANILA, Philippines - At least five suspected pushers and users were killed and seven others were arrested in Metro Manila over the past two days.

In Caloocan, two men identified only as Louie and Marlon were killed in an alleged shootout during a raid on a house in Barangay 178 at around 2:30 p.m. yesterday.

Four others, including two women, were arrested.

The raid was conducted after police received information on the rampant drug deals in the area.

Two .38 caliber revolvers, a .45 caliber pistol, several sachets of shabu and four motorcycles were recovered at the crime scene.

Richmond Santos, ninth on the Eastern Police District’s most wanted list, was killed when police officers were sent to Merry Homes Subdivision in Barangay 178.

Santos was the subject of arrest warrants for murder issued by various courts in Metro Manila.

Two of his companions, Leopoldo Alcantara and Anthony Padua, were arrested.

Also in Caloocan, an alleged pusher identified only as “Tatay” was shot dead by police officers in BMBA Compound, Barangay 118 at around 10 a.m. yesterday.

The compound is reportedly known as a drug haven, police said.

Chief Inspector Avelino Protacio, police community precinct 1 commander, said Tatay had been the subject of at least three police operations in the past months but evaded arrest.

Police recovered the suspect’s .38 caliber revolver and drug paraphernalia.

Meanwhile, alleged pusher and robber Bienvenido Reyes was arrested during the same operation after a resident told police that Reyes was hiding in his house.

In Pasig, Ramil Enriquez, 43, was shot dead and his companion Jake Pisarada, 20, was wounded by armed men who barged into his rented room in Barangay San Miguel on Sunday.

Pisarada was listed in critical condition at the Pasig City General Hospital.

Both men are on the barangay drug watchlist.

Seven shells, a slug, two plastic sachets of shabu and a tooter were recovered from the scene.