2 dead in drug attacks; 2 more slain in sting

MANILA, Philippines — Two persons were shot dead by unidentified assailants in Makati and Muntinlupa before dawn yesterday in what police officers believe are attacks connected to the illegal drug trade.

Police killed two others in a drug sting in Manila.

Honor Suarez, 58, of Mandaluyong City, was standing in front of an apartment at the corner of Kamagong and Baticulin streets in Barangay San Antonio Village when motorcycle-riding men shot her in the head repeatedly, Police Officer 2 Ronaldo Villarda said.

Suarez died at the scene. Police officers who responded to the shooting recovered a sachet of shabu from her person.

Villarda said they are conducting an investigation to determine the identity of the assailants, who fled shortly after killing Suarez, and to determine if she was involved in the illegal drug trade.

He added that they cannot set aside the theory that the attack is connected to the illegal drug trade because of the shabu found among the victim’s possessions.

In Muntinlupa, a tricycle driver who surrendered during Oplan Tokhang early this year was shot dead by two assailants near his house at the IBP Compound along the West Service Road in Barangay Cupang.

Richie Aconacon was drinking with friends when two men wearing helmets approached him and shot him in the chest several times. He died at the scene.

The assailants sped away on a motorcycle after the attack.

Drug busts

In Manila, police officers killed Joel Mata and Antonio Tamboboy in an alleged shootout during a drug sting in Tondo at past 3 a.m. yesterday.

The two men were reportedly in the Manila Police District Station 2’s drug watchlist.

Police Officer 1 Emerson Policarpio posed as a buyer with PO2s Ronel Siriban and Xyz Estillero and PO3 Ferdinand Concon comprising the rest of the team.

The two suspects reportedly shot at the policemen after sensing the drug deal was a sting.

The lawmen took the two suspects to the Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center, where they were declared dead on arrival. 

Police recovered a .45 caliber pistol with two bullets and two shells, a .38 caliber revolver with its serial number erased and with two bullets and four shells, five sachets said to contain shabu and P200 marked money from the scene. 

Police officers arested Felizardo Amaro Bracero, 61, for creating a scene at the Manila North Cemetery at around 7:30 p.m. Thursday. They seized a sachet said to contain shabu from him.

Meanwhile five alleged drug suspects were arrested in separate operations in Parañaque, Pasay and Pateros yesterday.

Brian Samudio, 26, and Albert Benites, 31, were caught in a drug sting at the Honteveros Compound in Barangay San Antonio, Parañaque. 

Southern Police District spokesperson Superintendent Jenny Tecson said Samudio and Benitez are allegedly among the “newly identified personalities” in the city’s illegal drug trade.

Four sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia were seized from them. 

Orlando Metchades, 38, was caught with a sachet of shabu and drug paraphernalia when police officers frisked him along Armada street in Barangay San Rosario Kanluran, Pateros. 

Hernanita Tradio, 51, and Erwin Suficienca, 28, yielded several sachets of shabu after they were arrested for engaging in illegal gambling at the corner of Primero de Mayo and Luciana streets in Pasay City.