7 drug suspects killed

MANILA, Philippines - Seven more drug suspects were killed across the country in the past two days.

Five, including a former police officer, were slain in separate stings in the Visayas on Thursday.

Wilson de Leon, a retired policeman, was killed in a shootout with police at the entrance of Jeffersonsville subdivision in Mandurriao district in Iloilo City at around 9:50 p.m., said Senior Inspector Adoldo Pagharion.

Pagharion said De Leon resisted arrest after selling five grams of shabu worth P15,000 to undercover agents.

Michael Huesca, 22; Michael Angelo Abebinir, 22, and Paul Centeno were killed in anti-drug operations in Ajuy, New Lucena and Concepcion towns in Iloilo, respectively.

Reynante Tanaleon, 35, died in a reported shootout with police in Barangay Aguilar, San Lorenzo town in Guimaras.

Prior to the incidents, only three drug suspects had been killed in police operations in Western Visayas, which according to  Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa was ”unimpressive.”

In Ilocos Sur, Eugene Vergara, 51, died while his wife Gloria, 51, was wounded in a gun attack by unidentified men who barged into their house in Barangay Namnama in Sinait town.

Abu bandit slain

Meanwhile, a suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit who was arrested in an anti-drug operation in Zambonga City on Saturday was shot dead on Thursday night after reportedly attempting to stab an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Abdulmuhmin Sumampil, alias Boboy, is also a gun-for-hire and had a pending warrant for murder, said Superintendent Rogelio Alabata, Zamboanga peninsula police spokesman. 

Initial reports said PDEA assistant regional director Levy Ortiz shot Sumampil when the bandit tried to stab him using a nail.

Sumampil’s father, Manny, chairman of the association of village chiefs in Lamitan City,  called for an investigation into the incident, saying his son was neither an Abu Sayyaf bandit nor a drug pusher.

More nabbed

In Pangasinan, Ryan Gomez, 34, the fourth most wanted drug personality in Sison town, was arrested at his residence in Barangay Asan Norte yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, Pangasinan police acting director, said three sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the suspect.

Also yesterday, five persons were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in Albay, Masbate and Camarines Sur.

Chief Superintendent Ramon Buenafe, Bicol police acting director, said a total of 38,167 drug personalities have surrendered in the region since July 1. – Jennifer Rendon, Roel Pareño, Raymund Catindig, Eva Visperas, Francis Elevado