Drug war: 12 more killed

MANILA, Philippines – Twelve more suspected drug pushers were killed in separate incidents across the country in the past two days.

Three were killed in an alleged shootout with police in a sting in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte on Friday.

Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, Zamboanga peninsula police director, identified the fatalities as Anwar Silan Sawdjaan, 19; Atilona Hofer, 20, and Noel Rey Bacalso.

Beltran said the slain men were members of a drug ring based in Ozamis City that distributes illegal drugs in Zamboanga Sibugay.

 Beltran said the shootout occurred when the suspects did not pull over at a police checkpoint.

 He said two of the suspects died at the scene while another was pronounced dead on arrival in a hospital.

The suspects reportedly yielded a .45-caliber pistol and ammunition, a .38-caliber revolver, a grenade and an undetermined quantity of suspected shabu.

Also on Friday, an unidentified man was killed in a reported shootout with anti-drug operatives in a coastal village in Zamboanga City.

 In Cagayan, Joel Doniego, 35, was killed in a sting in Sta. Teresita town while Michael Lajo, alias Ka Puto, was slain when he shot it out with police in Barangay Apsayan in Gerona, Tarlac.

Senior Superintendent Westrimundo Obinque, Tarlac police acting director, said Lajo was a known drug pusher in Gerona.

Meanwhile, in Pangasinan, two men died in an alleged encounter with police.

Superintendent Christopher Abrahano, Dagupan City police chief, said Juan Llamas and another who has yet to be identified, resisted arrest and fired at anti-drug operatives in Barangay Lucao in Dagupan City.

Two others, including Edward Ambrosio, 42, the top drug suspect in Asingan town, was shot dead by unidentified men.

Abrahano said six drug personalities have been killed in Dagupan since July 1.

In Baguio City, Ryan Almora, who was ranked third on the drug watchlist, was killed in a shootout with police, said Senior Superintendent George Daskeo, Baguio police director.

At least 14 drug suspects have been killed in the Cordilleras since July 1. Five have been killed in Baguio, two in Abra, four in Benguet and two in Kalinga.

DILG employee

An employee of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was gunned down in Barangay Calaocan, Alicia, Isabela on Friday night.

Marianito Adriano, a staff of Elpidio Duruin, Isabela DILG director, was shot by unidentified men on his way home at around 7 p.m., said Chief Inspector Santos Tecbobolan, Alicia police chief. ?

Tecbobolan said Adriano was ranked fourth on the drug watchlist of Alicia and surrendered last week.

Duruin said he was surprised that his former staff was a suspected drug pusher.

Village chief

In Camarines Sur, a village chief was arrested in Minalabac town before dawn yesterday.

Domingo Banaga was arrested during a raid on his house in Barangay Tariric based on a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Timoteo Panga Jr.

Banaga was among four village chiefs who have surrendered under Oplan Tokhang.

In Cagayan, Romeo Patricio, a municipal employee of Sta. Rita town was arrested during a sting on Friday. – Roel Pareño, Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Artemio Dumlao, Eva Visperas, Francis Elevado