4 drug suspects killed; over P150-M shabu seized

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – The number of slain suspected drug pushers keeps on rising as four more have been killed in alleged shootouts with police officers.

Suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P153.1 million have also been seized as police intensify the campaign against illegal drugs.

Erwin Bunquin and Dennis Atiena of the Bagro group shot it out with anti-drug operatives in Barangay Sta. Clara at around 12:30 a.m. yesterday, Senior Superintendent Arcadio Ronquillo, Batangas police chief, said.

Bunquin was declared dead on arrival at the Batangas Medical Center while Atiena died while being treated in the same hospital.

Police recovered a .45-caliber pistol, a .38-caliber revolver and four sachets of shabu worth P20,000.

Ronquillo said the alleged leader of the Bagro group, Edsher Dalisay, alias Ulo, and his partner Jamaica Panopio were arrested in a police operation in Barangay Balagtas on Thursday last week.

In Tarlac City, Mercy Alo and her unidentified cohort were killed in a shootout with police in Barangay Nicolas in Tarlac City on Sunday, said Senior Superintendent Westrimundo Obinque, Tarlac police officer-in-charge.

Obinque said the suspects were involved in illegal drug operations in Tarlac City and nearby towns.

Village chief falls

In Cagayan, a barangay chairman and his three cohorts were arrested for selling 30 kilograms of shabu estimated to be worth P150 million at a beach resort in Claveria.

Marzan Victor Tumaneng, 56, of Barangay Centro 4; Edgardo Almazan, Robert Cainguitan and Alfred Salvosa were collared on Tuesday.

Derrick Carreon, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Cagayan, said the suspects face charges for violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs and Section 26 (conspiracy to sell) of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

More surrender

In Barangay Libertad in Butuan City,  10 sachets of shabu worth P1.2 million were seized from 16 self-confessed drug users and suspected pushers.

Superintendent Francisco Dungo, Butuan police chief, said 194 persons have been admitted to a drug rehabilitation center in Surigao City since December.

At least 154 grams of shabu worth P1.7 million were seized and three persons were arrested in separate raids in Lucena City on Tuesday, said Senior Superintendent Eugene Paguirigan, Quezon police director.

Fear for life

A group of 107 suspected drug pushers and self-confessed users surrendered in Zamboanga City yesterday.

“They said they feared for their lives and decided to surrender because the campaign against illegal drugs intensifies every day,” Chief Inspector Raymond Sanson, Station 10 commander, said.

City legal officer Jesus Carbon said only those with police records would be detained. He said they did not want to be accused of arbitrary detention. – Ed Amoroso, Michelle Zoleta, Ben Serrano, Artemio Dumlao, Roel Pareño