2 slain, 6 arrested for illegal drugs

MANILA, Philippines — Two persons with alleged links to the illegal drug trade were gunned down and six others were arrested in Metro Manila since Thursday.

In Caloocan, Melvin Casipit, a former councilman of Barangay 120, was shot by four men who barged into his house along 2nd Avenue at around 1:21 p.m., said Chief Inspector Ilustre Mendoza, assistant city police chief.

A witness, Patricio Munag, 58, said one of the assailants even told Casipit to “go ahead and shout” before shooting the victim, who died at the scene.

The assailants fled on two motorcycles.

Residents told investigators that Casipit last served as councilman in 2016. A source told The STAR that Casipit was reportedly involved in illegal drugs and human trafficking.

Tricycle driver Vonne Ace Cristo, 37, was standing at the corner of Lope de Vega and Felix Huertas streets when several men on motorcycles shot him repeatedly before dawn yesterday.

Cristo was declared dead on arrival at a hospital from five gunshot wounds in the head and body.

His relatives told police Cristo was a former drug user.

In Quezon City, police arrested two men and a minor during a raid on a house along Ipil-ipil street in Barangay Payatas B at around 4:45 p.m. Thursday.

Thirty-five sachets containing 15 grams of shabu, with an estimated street value of P75,000, drug paraphernalia, a pistol barrel and bullets were seized from Mark Anthony Zafra, 30; Ariel Agustin, 35, and the minor.

Meanwhile, three persons were arrested for illegal drugs in Pasig City yesterday.

Police officers were conducting a surveillance operation when they spotted Aquilino Gatmaitan Jr., Oliver Javier Jr. and Alex Cruz playing cara y cruz, an illegal coin game, in Barangay Pinagbuhatan at around 2 a.m.

The three men yielded three sachets of shabu and P61 bet money.