14 drug suspects killed in Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Fourteen more drug suspects have been added to the list of those slain in Luzon.

Eight, including a former police officer, were killed in separate anti-drug operations in Bulacan, Bataan and Tarlac on Wednesday.  

Alpasel Hamsa, who was dismissed from the service on Jan. 19, fired at police officers serving a warrant for his arrest in Barangay Camaya in Mariveles, Bataan, said Senior Superintendent Benjamin Silo Jr., Bataan police director, in his report to Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Central Luzon police acting director.

Hamsa was the 17th drug personality killed in the province since July 1. He was also alleged to be a member of a gunrunning syndicate.

Ambrosio Fabella, 31, alias Butchoy, a resident of Tondo, Manila, and an alias Pilay, were killed in a shootout with the Bulacan police in Barangay Batia in Bocaue town and Barangay Bigte in Norzagaray, respectively, said Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, provincial police director.

5 found dead

Three were found dead in Sitio Caymino, Barangay Minuyan in Norzagaray.

 Two of the bodies were identified as Jimmy Lagman, 29, and an alias Ninok, both residents of Barangay San Rafael II in San Jose Del Monte City. A note that read “pusher, ayaw tumigil, huwag tularan (pusher, won’t change, don’t emulate)” was found in the pockets of their pants.

In Tarlac, the bodies of an unidentified man and woman were dumped in a rice field in Barangay San Agustin in San Manuel town on Tuesday.

Three bullets shells for a .45-caliber pistol and a sachet of shabu were recovered at the scene.

Top drug suspects

Two top drug suspects were killed in a reported shootout with police after refusing to pull over at a checkpoint in Lasam, Cagayan on Tuesday. ?

Chief Inspector Edgar Unista, Lasam police chief, said Erwin Bicera, 43, and Walter Viloria, 33, were ranked first and fourth, respectively, on the town’s drug watchlist.

Unista said a .45-caliber pistol, an improvised M16 rifle, five sachets of shabu and a pack of dried marijuana leaves were recovered from the suspects. ?

In Nueva Vizcaya, Jimmy Camba was killed by an unidentified man in a bar along Washington street in Solano town. 

Camba was pronounced dead on arrival at the Veterans Regional Hospital, where personnel reportedly found two sachets of suspected shabu from the pockets of his pants.

Benedict Corpuz, 23, and Ruel Andres shot it out with police in separate stings in Currimao town and Laoag City, respectively, yesterday, said Chief Inspector Dexter Corpuz, Ilocos Norte police spokesman.

Meanwhile, in Rizal, a man identified only as Bon-Bon, was reportedly killed in a shootout with anti-drug operatives in Taytay town yesterday.

Senior Inspector Rhonnie Ariola, Taytay police chief, said they received reports that the suspect would deliver shabu to prospective buyers in Morong.

Ariola said the suspect did not pull over at a police checkpoint in Barangay San Guillermo and instead drew his gun.

He said a .38-caliber pistol, a motorcycle, a steel box containing seven sachets of shabu, a digital weighing scale and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the suspect.

Rodolfo Cornelio Sr., 45, the most wanted drug personality in Magallanes, Sorsogon, was arrested in a sting in a bus terminal in Barangay Central while Jimmy Marbella, 37, was collared in a sting at the compound of Saint Joseph church in Barangay Poso in Donsol town.

In Sultan Kudarat, three were arrested in an operation in Kalamansig town on Wednesday.

Akas Kasan, 56; Mantingan Silongan, 43, and Mohariden Silongan, 18, yielded various guns and 18 sachets of shabu, said Superintendent Romeo Galgo Jr., a staff of the Soccsksargen police.

2 soldiers

Meanwhile, two soldiers and a civilian personnel of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) have been found positive for drug use.

Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo de la Cruz, Westmincom chief, said 373 military officers, enlisted men and civilian personnel of the Westmincom underwent drug tests at Camp Navarro yesterday.

De la Cruz said those who tested positive would undergo a confirmatory test at a center accredited by the Department of Health. – Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Raffy Viray, Non Alquitran, Francis Elevado, John Unson, Roel Pareño